Bel Ami (2012)

Directors:

Declan Donnellan
Nick Ormerod

Writers:

Guy de Maupassant (novel)
Rachel Bennette (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 February 2012 (Portugal)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Possessed by love. Consumed by desire.

Plot:

A chronicle of a young man's rise to power in Paris via his manipulation of the city's most influential and wealthy women.

Plot Keywords:

Adultery | 1890s | Prostitute | Bare Chested Male | Male Rear Nudity

Cast

Robert Pattinson	...	Georges Duroy
Uma Thurman	...	Madeleine Forestier
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Virginie Rousset
Christina Ricci	...	Clotilde de Marelle
Colm Meaney	...	Monsieur Rousset
Philip Glenister	...	Charles Forestier
Holliday Grainger	...	Suzanne Rousset
Natalia Tena	...	Rachel the Prostitute
James Lance	...	François Laroche
Anthony Higgins	...	Comte de Vaudrec
Timothy Walker	...	Solicitor
Pip Torrens	...	Paul the Butler
Christopher Fulford	...	Police Commisioner
Amy Marston	...	Nanny
Frank Dunne	...	Bishop
George Potts	...	Chief Cashier
Eloise Webb	...	Laurine de Marelle
Balázs Czukor	...	Priest
Rebecca Barrett	...	Dancer
Tom Muggeridge	...	Dancer
Matthew Cheney	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Todd Peterson	...	Journalist
Audrey Albert	...	Duchesse (uncredited)
Lasco Atkins	...	French Waiter (uncredited)
Sophie Barnes	...	(uncredited)
Ryan Ellsworth	...	Journalist (uncredited)
Szabolcs Eszes	...	Young man at restaurant (uncredited)
James Fiddy	...	Parisian Gentleman (uncredited)
Arthur Gourounlian	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jason Gregg	...	Gavante Man (uncredited)
Jake Harders	...	Journalist (uncredited)
Ceri Jerome	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Dorian Lough	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Adam Newsome	...	Journalist (uncredited)
Chris Piper	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Senem Temiz	...	Ball Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Declan Donnellan
Nick Ormerod

Writing credits
Guy de Maupassant		(novel)
Rachel Bennette		(screenplay)

Produced by
Laurie Borg	....	co-producer
Simon Fuller	....	executive producer
Ceri Hughes	....	associate producer
Ildiko Kemeny	....	associate producer: Hungary (as Ildikó Kemény)
Uberto Pasolini	....	producer

Original Music by
Lakshman Joseph De Saram
Rachel Portman

Cinematography by
Stefano Falivene

Film Editing by
Gavin Buckley
Masahiro Hirakubo

Casting by
Susie Figgis

Production Design by
Attila Kovács		(as Attila F. Kovacs)

Art Direction by
Zsuzsanna Borvendég

Set Decoration by
Marc Beros
Anna Lynch-Robinson

Costume Design by
Odile Dicks-Mireaux

Makeup Department
Vicky Fields	....	hair trainee (as Victoria Fields)
Vicky Fields	....	makeup trainee (as Victoria Fields)
Jon Henry Gordon	....	hair stylist
Jon Henry Gordon	....	makeup artist
Joe Hopker	....	hair stylist
Annamária Lafferton	....	assistant crowd makeup supervisor: Budapest
Lizzie Lawson	....	hair stylist (as Lizzi Lawson Zeiss)
Lizzie Lawson	....	makeup artist (as Lizzi Lawson Zeiss)
Louise Luxton	....	crowd hair stylist
Balázs Novák	....	crowd makeup supervisor: Budapest
Gabriella Németh	....	crowd hair supervisor: Budapest
Jenny Shircore	....	hair designer
Jenny Shircore	....	makeup designer
Julia Vernon	....	crowd hair supervisor
Julia Vernon	....	crowd makeup supervisor

Production Management
Kálmán Antal	....	production manager: Hungary
Gisela Evert	....	post-production supervisor
Jennifer Wynne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Brewster	....	third assistant director
Gergely Fülöp	....	third assistant director: Hungary
Sandrine Loisy	....	base third assistant director
Candy Marlowe	....	crowd second assistant director
Bogi Móricz	....	second assistant director: Hungary
Josh Robertson	....	first assistant director
Nick Shuttleworth	....	second assistant director
Andy Young	....	crowd third assistant director
Emma Grace	....	crowd third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Graham Caulfield	....	drapesmaster
Alexandra Collins	....	assistant art director
Billy Edwards	....	props
Carrie Garner	....	assistant set decorator
James Hendy	....	prop buyer
Simon Hutchings	....	standby painter
Josh Jones	....	stand-by carpenter
Attila Kiss	....	standby props
József Kiss	....	construction manager
Amy Meakin	....	graphics assistant
Les Mills	....	supervising rigger
Ian Murray	....	rigger
Sophie Neil	....	assistant to production designer
Tamas Ordodi	....	sculptor
Beatrix Petõ	....	assistant art director
Mark Raggett	....	supervising art director
Tyrone Reed	....	stagehand
Sarah Stuart	....	stand-by art director
István Tímár	....	props
Howard Weaver	....	scenic artist
Terry Woods	....	property master

Sound Department
Robert Farr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Arthur Fenn	....	boom operator
James Gibb	....	sound assistant
Paul Hanks	....	foley artist
Simon Hayes	....	production sound mixer
Robin Johnson	....	boom operator
Kevin Phelan	....	head of post production: Lip Sync Post
Simon Trundle	....	foley editor
Simon Trundle	....	foley mixer
Ian Waggott	....	foley artist
Ian Wilson	....	supervising sound editor
Yanti Windrich	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Robert Karlsson	....	sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects supervisor
Nigel Wilkinson	....	senior special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Stefan Drury	....	head of visual effects
Sean Farrow	....	executive visual effects supervisor
Matt Foster	....	compositor: LipSync Post
Charlotte Gray	....	digital restoration artist
Will Hudson	....	digital restoration
Emma Hulme	....	digital restoration
Katie McCulloch	....	digital restoration
David Sjodin	....	compositor
Lucy Tanner	....	visual effects coordinator

Stunts
Mark Archer	....	stunts
Tony Lucken	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ádám Balogh	....	rigging electrician
Attila Barczay	....	camera trainee
Alfie Biddle	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Attila Bilik	....	rigging gaffer: Hungary
Kerry Brown	....	still photographer
Zsolt Büti	....	gaffer: Hungary
Tommy Carlin	....	rigging electrician
Lawrence Carter	....	standby rigger
Chris Cavanagh	....	video playback assistant
Chris Clarke	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
John Clarke	....	electrician
Ian Coffey	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Andy Cole	....	best boy
John Colley	....	gaffer
Adam Dorney	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Mike Farr	....	lighting balloon technician
Lee Godfrey	....	grip: "b" camera
Stuart Godfrey	....	key grip
György Horváth	....	focus puller: "b" camera, Hungary
Stuart Howell	....	Steadicam operator
Stuart Howell	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Dylan Jones	....	video operator
János Kiss	....	key grip: Budapest
Oliver Loncraine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Vince Madden	....	rigging gaffer
Ginger McCarthy	....	supervising electrical rigger
Danny McGee	....	practical electrician
Mike Parsons	....	electrician
Robert Patzelt	....	Steadicam operator
Robert Patzelt	....	additional camera operator
Péter Pozsonyi	....	grip
Balázs Rozgonyi	....	video assist operator
Gabor Szucs	....	grip: Budapest
Carsten Thoms	....	balloon light technician
István Török	....	best boy grip: Budapest

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	voice casting
Tamás Kertész	....	extras casting
Kirsty Kinnear	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brigitta Barkó	....	wardrobe assistant: Hungary
Karen Beale	....	wardrobe mistress
Joanna Campbell	....	wardrobe mistress
Martin Chitty	....	set costumer
Ellen Crawshaw	....	costume assistant: daily
Anne T. Delaney	....	costumes
Lucy Donowho	....	set costumer
Andrew Fletcher	....	key costumer
Jules Goldsmith	....	costume assistant
Natalie Humphries	....	assistant costume designer
Harriet Kendall	....	costume assistant
Éva Kuzma	....	wardrobe assistant
Joseph La Corte	....	Costumer to Uma Thurman
Bryony Myers	....	costume daily
Péter Palotás	....	dresser
Jane Petrie	....	costume supervisor
Anna Reynolds	....	costume assistant
Orsolya Sallai	....	costumer
Zsuzsa Stenger	....	costume supervisor
Katalin Ujvari	....	wardrobe assistant
Wyn Vaughan-Humphreys	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Paul Ensby	....	digital colourist
Kim Honeyman	....	digital intermediate producer
Neil Williams	....	first assistant editor
Simona Harrison	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)
Todd Kleparski	....	digital intermediate producer (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Yann McCullough	....	music co-ordinator
Yann McCullough	....	music editor
Jeremy Murphy	....	protools engineer
Ben Parker	....	music tutor
Jehan Stefan	....	assistant to orchestrator
Karen Westropp	....	assistant to composer
Youki Yamamoto	....	music arranger

Transportation Department
Paul Allen	....	unit driver
Soma Benke	....	transportation captain
Mark Crowley	....	driver: Rob Pattinson
Lee Edwards	....	unit driver
István Ivanov	....	driver
Zsolt Somogyi	....	transportation coordinator: Hungary
Zoltan Szepesi	....	motorhome operator

Other crew
Reka Angyalosy	....	assistant accountant
Philip Ball	....	stand-in
Bea Beliczai	....	location manager
Csaba Benedek	....	location and security consultant
Roland Birtha	....	unit assistant
Finn Brandt	....	title designer
Kate Brown	....	key floor runner
Katie Bullock-Webster	....	post production co-ordinator
Phil Cairns	....	unit publicist
David Campbell-Bell	....	assistant location manager
Bruno Cassoni	....	assistant location manager
Valentina Coccia	....	production coordinator
Ginger Corbett	....	unit publicist
Paul Crimmings	....	close protection officer
Christian De-vos	....	head of security
Szabolcs Eszes	....	stand-in: Robert Pattinson (Hungary )
Elton Farla	....	unit medic
Lizzy Follows	....	unit publicist
Samantha Gardner	....	assistant accountant
Katie Harlow	....	script supervisor: dailies
Michael Harm	....	location manager
Marianne Huet	....	assistant script supervisor
Amy Irvine	....	stand-in
Sheerin Khosrowshahi-Miandoab	....	cast assistant
András Kopházi	....	security coordinator
Kerrie Lloyd	....	production runner
Imre Légmán	....	location manager
Linda Marián	....	runner
Cara McVean	....	production assistant
Zoe Morgan	....	script supervisor
Louise O'Malley	....	production accountant
Zsofi Oblath	....	production coordinator: Hungary
Peter Ogunsalu	....	assistant to director
Gábor Osváth	....	assistant to the directors: Hungary
János Papp	....	health & safety advisor: Hungary
Asha Sharma	....	assistant location manager
Alice Syed	....	assistant production coordinator
Richard Szabó	....	unit manager: Hungary
Joan Washington	....	dialogue coach
Dan Whitty	....	location manager
David Wilcock	....	first assistant accountant
Lesley Wise	....	legal & business affairs
Gábor Xantus	....	medical coordinator
Peter Gray	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Redwave Films (as Red Wave)
• 19 Entertainment (as XIX Film) (in association with)
• Protagonist Pictures (in association with)
• Rai Cinema (in association with)

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2012) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Encore Films (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Incognito Films (2012) (Estonia) (theatrical)
• Incognito Films (2012) (Latvia) (theatrical)
• Incognito Films (2012) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Optimum Releasing (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Twin Co. Ltd. (2013) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribution (2012) (Italy) (all media)
• California Filmes (2012) (Brazil) (all media)
• Camilla Internusa PT (2012) (Indonesia) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2012) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Central Partnership (2012) (Russia) (all media)
• Film1 (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Filmax (2012) (Spain) (all media)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2012) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Golden Scene (2013) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Golden Scene (2013) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2012) (Greece) (all media)
• Hopscotch Films (2012) (Australia) (all media)
• MediaPro Distribution (2012) (Romania) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) (2012) (USA) (all media) (exluding theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• StudioCanal (2012) (UK) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2013) (Argentina) (DVD)
• UniKorea Pictures (2012) (Korea) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2012) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Lipsync Post (visual effects)

Other Companies

• 2020 Casting  extras casting
• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Audiolink Radio Communications  cell phone rentals
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Bonded Services  film storage
• Brandt Animation  title and credit design
• Concorde Film Trust  funding
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Fatts  post production script services
• HireWorks  Avid equipment rental
• Kodak  motion picture film supplier
• Le Vestiaire  costume rental
• Lipsync Post  post-production sound services
• Movie Lot, The  security
• Pioneer Pictures  production services
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Programme MEDIA de la Communauté Européenne  funding
• Sands Films  costumier
• Technicolor  dailies
• Technicolor  negative development
• Technicolor  post-production
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Videoassist.hu  video assist equipment
• West Trend Apartments  accommodation agent

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality, nudity and brief language

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:16 | Czech Republic:12 | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA15+ | South Korea:18 | India:A | Mexico:B15 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R15+ | Argentina:13 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Redwave Films

Trivia:

Marion Cotillard turned down a role.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Georges Duroy:[to Virginie after throwing her down] I despise you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Bad Movie Beatdown: Review of 2012 (#4.29)" (2013)

Come ...and meet Georges Duroy!

****this review may contain spoilers****

'Come and meet my wife'

With these words Charles Forestier opens a new world for his former friend and ex-soldier Georges Duroy. A world where a poor, working man can only dream of. A world where the high society has its own rules, where sex is power, where power leads to connections, where connections lead to the top and where the top is dominated by corruption and intrigues.

It's the world of Belle Epoque Paris at the end of the 19th century, with its carriages and boudoirs,its beautiful salons and ladies in stunning dresses.

Georges Duroy, a poor, handsome man with no special talents but with the strong ambition to become rich and important, takes the invitation of his wealthy friend and puts his first steps on the social ladder. Uncertain and awkward in the beginning, looking how to behave in this elitist company he learns fast, conquers the hearts of the wives of influential men (by sleeping with them) to break them shamelessly when a better opportunity shows up.

Bel ami, film adaptation of the famous classic novel by Guy de Maupassant, is an adult tale of the rise of Georges Duroy to the top but also of the dubious and corrupt relationships between politicians and journalists. These themes are still actual and recognizable, which makes the movie very accessible. The film makers did a big effort in creating a wonderful setting as authentic as possible. Also the costumes are a joy to watch.

The performances were very well done IMO.

Though Robert Pattinson was only 23 when he took this role he held his own against experienced actresses as Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristin Scott Thomas who brought respectively the intelligent Madeleine, the frivolous Clotilde and the devote Virginie convincingly to life. Because of his strong screen presence and the way he showed Georges' evolution from a beginning casanova to the cad he became, Rob nailed the character and showed that he can have a bright future as an actor.

Bel ami, though it has dark themes, is entertaining and has more than once funny moments apart from several steamy sex scenes. It depends of each one's perception of the movie but I can't help but being amused by Georges'conquests or is it Robert Pattinson who has succeeded to make an unlikeable character likable?

If you love period movies, it's a must see. If you don't love them, you may do after Bel ami.