The Duchess of Langeais (2007)
"Ne touchez pas la hache" (original title)

In Majorca, in 1823, a French general, Armand de Montriveau, overhears a cloistered nun singing in a chapel; he insists on speaking to her. She is Antoinette, for five years he has searched... See full summary »

Director:

Jacques Rivette

Writers:

Honoré de Balzac (novel), Pascal Bonitzer,

Stars:

Jeanne Balibar, Guillaume Depardieu, Bulle Ogier

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeanne Balibar	...	Antoinette de Langeais
Guillaume Depardieu	...	Armand de Montriveau
Bulle Ogier	...	Princesse de Blamont-Chauvry
Michel Piccoli	...	Vidame de Pamiers
Anne Cantineau	...	Clara de Sérizy
Marc Barbé	...	Marquis de Ronquerolles
Thomas Durand	...	De Marsay
Nicolas Bouchaud	...	De Trailles
Mathias Jung	...	Julien
Julie Judd	...	Lisette
Victoria Zinny	...	La mère supérieure
Remo Girone	...	Le confesseur au couvent
Beppe Chierici	...	L'alcade
Paul Chevillard	...	Duc de Navarreins
Barbet Schroeder	...	Duc de Grandlieu

Storyline

In Majorca, in 1823, a French general, Armand de Montriveau, overhears a cloistered nun singing in a chapel; he insists on speaking to her. She is Antoinette, for five years he has searched for her. Flash back to their meeting in Paris, he recently returned from Africa, she married and part of the highest society. She flirts with him, and soon he's captivated. His behavior is possessive, insistent. Then, it is her turn to become obsessed. Letters, balls, scandal, a kidnapping, and an ultimatum bring her to the cloister and him to melancholy. Whose steel proved sharper? Is it tragic or grotesque?

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Plot Keywords:

nun | scandal | letter | general | africa | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French Spanish

Release Date:

28 March 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

The Duchess of Langeais

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$22,251 (USA) (22 February 2008)

Gross:

$281,468 (USA) (25 July 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pierre Grise Productions, Cinemaundici, arte France Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chosen by "Les Cahiers du cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2007 (#10, tied with "Sang sattawat" and "Hei yan quan")

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Goofs

When Armand is reading the final letter of the Duchess, a wall socket is visible.

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Connections

Version of La duchesse de Langeais (1995)

User Reviews

A Cinematic Sleeping Pill

Okay, I'll admit it. I've only seen a couple of Jacques Rivette's films apart from this one (Celine & Julie Go Boating & Le Belle Noisettes). I had heard prior to seeing those that Rivette was always one to make it difficult for audiences (timing being one:a standard Rivette film clocks in no less than two and a half hours). 'Ne Touchez Pas La Hache' is a beautifully filmed exercise cinematic narcolepsy. The characters seem to sleepwalk their way throughout this film. A few of the other cinephiles in attendance seemed to get their jollies from this film. To each their own, I say. I guess I should see some more of Rivette's work before I toss in the towel on him (I still prefer Trufaut,or even Goddard,among the French "new wave" directors).