Les destinées (2000)
"Les destinées sentimentales" (original title)

In late nineteenth century Charante, Protestant minister Jean Barnery causes local disquiet when he arranges a separation from his obsessive wife - and more talk when he decides to take her... See full summary »

Director:

Olivier Assayas

Writers:

Olivier Assayas, Jacques Chardonne (novel),

Stars:

Emmanuelle Béart, Charles Berling, Isabelle Huppert

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emmanuelle Béart	...	Pauline Pommerel
Charles Berling	...	Jean Barnery
Isabelle Huppert	...	Nathalie Barnery
Olivier Perrier	...	Philippe Pommerel
Dominique Reymond	...	Julie Desca
André Marcon	...	Paul Desca
Alexandra London	...	Louise Desca
Julie Depardieu	...	Marcelle
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing	...	Arthur Pommerel
Valérie Bonneton	...	Arthur Pommerel's wife
Pascal Bongard	...	Vouzelles
Didier Flamand	...	Guy Barnery
Jean-Baptiste Malartre	...	Frédéric Barnery
Nicolas Pignon	...	Bavouzet
Catherine Mouchet	...	Fernande

Storyline

In late nineteenth century Charante, Protestant minister Jean Barnery causes local disquiet when he arranges a separation from his obsessive wife - and more talk when he decides to take her back. By this time he has been drawn to Pauline, niece of a Cognac distiller, and this precipitates him divorcing his wife, settling on her and his daughter the shares he owns in his family's porcelain factory. He resigns the ministry, marries Pauline, and moves to Switzerland and a tranquil life. On the death of his father he agrees to return home to save the factory, knowing the problems it will bring will change his life completely. So it proves, with service in the Great War having a further profound impact on him and those around him.

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Plot Keywords:

factory | switzerland | will | divorce | protestant | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Pathé / FKGB

Country:

France Switzerland

Language:

French

Release Date:

12 July 2000 (France)

Also Known As:

Les destinées

Filming Locations:

Gare, Champigny-sur-Veude, Indre-et-Loire, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$12,367 (USA) (5 April 2002)

Gross:

$230,300 (USA) (20 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arcade, Arena Films, CAB Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Such a beautiful film, to fall so short

Chardonne's novel is a masterfully written tale about two characters as they spiral through and explore love as life's most essential element. The director captured it beautifully as a tone, a feeling, and as an overall impression of how the characters react to their journey. Unfortunately, he left out the milestones, those transitions a character makes, inwardly, as outward events bear in on them. The audience is asked to make gigantic leaps of logic as the character's trust in and dependence on Love changes, evolves with age. Mind you this is a three hour epic, so it is not for want of time that the production misses the mark, only the screenwriter's discipline, and here, again, the director got involved where he ought not be.