The Children of the Century (1999)
"Les enfants du siècle" (original title)

The only thing more outrageous than French novelist George Sand's torrid love affair with the decadent author Alfred de Musset and her affinity for wearing men's clothing, was the content ... See full summary »

Director:

Diane Kurys

Writers:

Murray Head, Diane Kurys,

Stars:

Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Stefano Dionisi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Juliette Binoche	...	George Sand
Benoît Magimel	...	Alfred de Musset
Stefano Dionisi	...	Pietro Pagello
Robin Renucci	...	François Buloz
Karin Viard	...	Marie Dorval
Isabelle Carré	...	Aimée d'Alton
Patrick Chesnais	...	Gustave Planche
Arnaud Giovaninetti	...	Alfred Tattet
Denis Podalydès	...	Sainte-Beuve
Olivier Foubert	...	Paul de Musset
Marie-France Mignal	...	Mme. de Musset
Michel Robin	...	Larive
Ludivine Sagnier	...	Hermine de Musset
Victoire Thivisol	...	Solange (as Victoire)
Julien Léal	...	Maurice

Storyline

The only thing more outrageous than French novelist George Sand's torrid love affair with the decadent author Alfred de Musset and her affinity for wearing men's clothing, was the content of her writing. Though Sand (otherwise known as the Baroness Dudevant) smoked cigars and cross-dressed, it was the boldness of her writing on issues such as the abstinence of marriage and women's frigidity that most contributed to the scandalous reputation she earned in French literary circles. When she met Alfred de Musset, the most gifted poet of his generation, the two quickly became a public cause celebrity while their work would go on to become some of the finest examples of 19th century romanticism.

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Plot Keywords:

french | alfred de musset | love | george sand | poet | 

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Taglines:

Love, betrayal, passion and pride.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

22 September 1999 (France)

Also Known As:

The Children of the Century

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$8,044 (USA) (13 September 2002)

Gross:

$54,912 (USA) (27 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alexandre Films, Canal+, Conseil Général de l'Indre

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min 105 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in the actual rooms in the Hotel Danieli which Sand and Musset stayed in.

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Quotes

Alfred de Musset: You imitate passion, but you feel nothing.

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Connections

Version of A Song to Remember (1945)

User Reviews

Beautiful but Flawed

Diane Kury's oppulent film is a mixed bag. In it's favour it features

real life lovers Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel on excellent

form. As Alfred de Musset Magimel gives us a young man

completely out of his mind on a cocktail of opium and absinthe. A

man deeply creative and talented, but unable to function as a

human being. Binoche's George Sand is a strong a determined

woman. The scene where she finds that Musset may die after

overdosing is wonderfully performed with passion and grandeur.

The film comes alive in her eyes. As filmed by Vilko Filac and

dressed by Christian La Croix, Binoche has never looked more

beautiful or sensual.

However Kurys' direction and her screenplay, co-written by

Francois Olivier Rousseau and Murray Head, lacks direction and

understanding of her period. The brothel scenes are particularly

over the top. Yet her direction of her actor is magnificent.

What is missing from Kurys' film most of all however is Sand and

Musset as writers, as creative masters. There is no sense of their

value in the film beyond their doomed love affair.

Les Enfants du Siecle is a mixed bag, but certainly worth a look.