Sade (2000)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Benoît Jacquot

Writers:

Serge Bramly (novel)
Jacques Fieschi (writer)

Release Date:

23 August 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He was a man ahead of his time. His ideas on love and sex shocked his generation

Plot:

A man prepares himself to be transferred to a detention center and rest home where he will relive one more time the highlights of his youth.

Plot Keywords:

Marquis De Sade | French Revolution | Sade | Nobility | Vagina

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Daniel Auteuil	...	Marquis de Sade
Marianne Denicourt	...	Sensible
Jeanne Balibar	...	Madame Santero
Grégoire Colin	...	Fournier
Isild Le Besco	...	Emilie de Lancris
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Le vicomte de Lancris
Philippe Duquesne	...	Coignard
Vincent Branchet	...	Chevalier de Coublier
Raymond Gérôme	...	Président de Maussane
Jalil Lespert	...	Augustin
Dominique Reymond	...	Madame de Lancris
Sylvie Testud	...	Renée de Sade
François Levantal	...	Latour
Frédérique Tirmont	...	Madame d'Amblet
Daniel Martin	...	Monsieur Santero

Also Known As:

De Sade (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

100 min | Argentina:106 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:16 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Abbaye Saint-Martin, Sées, Orne, France

Company:

Alicéléo

Liberties by libertines...

For a historical French film, this effort by Benoit Jacquot comes on target. The tragic figure that was the Marquis de Sade is given a very sympathetic view from the director and it helps that Daniel Auteuil is portraying the main character.

The screenplay based on the novel by Serge Bramly, by Jacques Fiesch shows us the days of the Reign of Terror in France and what happened to these royals are they are sent to the country estate because they all have fallen out with the revolutionary government for different reasons.

The Marquis de Sade would, by today's standards, have been an eccentric living among the high society of Paris without raising an eyebrow, but unfortunately, his life happened during that period of turmoil where he was singled out as evil for just questioning the values and the hypocrisy of the French aristocracy.

The portrayal of de Sade by Mr. Auteuil is very restrained and dignified in contrast with other accounts of the Marquis by other actors in other films. He is interested in Emilie de Lancris, who just happens to be in the same place with her parents. Isild Le Besco, the actress playing her, has an enigmatic kind of beauty. She wants to learn and chooses the Marquis to be her guide into an unknown world.

An ensemble cast was assembled for this film. Among the most the best: Jeanne Balber, as the naughty Madame Santero. Silvie Testud and Gregoire Colin in minor roles and the great Jean Pierre Cassel as Emilie's libertine father.

This has been one of the most underrated films that have come from France lately, and unfortunately, it only lasted not even 2 weeks at Manhattan's mecca for "arty" films, the Lincoln Plaza complex, where there were only about 6 people in the theatre when we saw it. Yet, the same theatre was full when the overrated Amelie played for months.