La nourrice (2004) (TV)

Director:

Renaud Bertrand

Writer:

Claude Scasso (writer)

Release Date:

9 May 2004 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

19th century. Madeleine leaves her country life to become a nurse in Paris. |

Plot Keywords:

19th Century | Bastard | Breast Feeding | Class Differences | Opium

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Sophie Quinton	...	Madeleine
Marthe Keller	...	Mme Dumayet-Ponti
Emilie Lafarge	...	Solange Dumayet
Valérie Vogt	...	La laitière
Jérémie Elkaïm	...	Mathieu
Alexandre Cross	...	Alexandre Dumayet
Sacha Briquet	...	Le docteur Morel
Olivier Saladin	...	David
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lionel Abelanski	...	Valentin
Maurice Antoni	...	Maitre d'hôtel
Marie Bariller	...	Mme De Lignac
Philippe Bas	...	Prètre Morvan
Mathieu Bisson	...	M. de Lignac
Élodie Bollée	...	Sylvette
Denis Braccini	...	Père Madeleine
Jean-Pol Brissart	...	M. Maugency
Alexandre Cros	...	Alexandre Dumayet-Ponti
Juliette Delegue	...	Nourrice hospice
Marie Favasuli	...	Religieuse
Estelle Faye	...	Femme révoltée
Sarah Haxaire	...	Gabrielle
Jeanne Herry	...	Cécile
Catherine Hosmalin	...	Léontine
Silvie Laguna	...	Mme Maugency (as Sylvie Laguna)
Lise Lamétrie	...	Couturière
Hervé Langlois	...	Cocher
Philippe Magnan	...	Dr. Dubouc
Vinciane Millereau	...	Nouvelle femme Valentin
Anne-Sophie Morillon	...	Mireille
Bruno Oliati	...	Frère Madelaine
Christine Paolini	...	La gouvernante
Victoria Rouhani	...	Nourrice
Liliane Rovère	...	Pagevin
Isabelle Velay	...	Mère Supérieure
Tony Verzelle	...	Vincent
Leslie Vicas	...	Prostituée

Runtime:

France:90 min | France:91 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Cinétévé

Great original script brings history to life

Though the title refers to nurse maids, and that is indeed a major theme in this film, the story of the nurse maid in question is the essence of the film. In focusing on her life and times, the customs, inventions and issues back then become a bewitching history lesson.

The title character becomes a nurse maid as a way out of many problems country women had back then. Once in the city, she finds out that there are even more challenges waiting for her there. She must not only confront her family's determination to keep her away from her true love and make her marry another man, but she must sell her body as a cash cow, literally. Pasteur was just introducing his new process to preserve milk safely as the story progresses, so selling mother's milk as a profession was at its peak.

It was also a new era for women, as they demanded new rights and learned to read. The lure of the colonies is also very evident, as opium trade from the Orient, and dreams of a new life in Algeria flourished among the population. Many other bits and pieces, too many to mention, from this time period are woven into the story very naturally. Without noticing it, one is getting a wonderful history lesson, which is not all preachy or even obvious.

The cast is wonderful, especially Marthe Keller in a role made to fit for her as a domineering and cruel matriarch. The sets, costumes and cinematography are breathtaking. The film is just long enough to tell its various story lines, and never bores. Definitely recommended, and not just to history buffs or period piece lovers.