Thérèse Desqueyroux (2012)

An unhappily married woman struggles to break free from social pressures.

Director:

Claude Miller

Writers:

François Mauriac (novel), Claude Miller (scenario, adaptation and dialogue),

Stars:

Audrey Tautou, Gilles Lellouche, Anaïs Demoustier

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Audrey Tautou	...	Thérèse Larroque - épouse Desqueyroux
Gilles Lellouche	...	Bernard Desqueyroux
Anaïs Demoustier	...	Anne de la Trave
Catherine Arditi	...	Madame de la Trave
Isabelle Sadoyan	...	Tante Clara
Francis Perrin	...	Monsieur Larroque
Jean-Claude Calon	...	Monsieur de la Trave
Max Morel	...	Balion
Françoise Goubert	...	Balionte
Stanley Weber	...	Jean Azevedo
Alba Gaïa Kraghede Bellugi	...	Thérèse Larroque à 15 ans (as Alba Gaïa Bellugi)
Matilda Marty-Giraut	...	Anne de la Trave à 15 ans
Gérard Bayle	...	Pedemay
Yves Jacques	...	Maître Duros
Docteur Lebeau	...	Le ponte de Bordeaux

Storyline

The year is 1926. In the Landes region, free-spirited Thérèse Larroque, the daughter of a wealthy pinery owner and radical-socialist politician, marries Bernard Desqueyroux, another pinery owner. Although she does it half-heartedly, she thinks that marriage may help her to "sort out all the ideas in her mind". But her disappointment is great. Her wedding night is all but fascinating and when she becomes pregnant she realizes the baby matters more to Bernard than herself. While Thérèse stifles in her husband's beautiful residence among stiff in-laws who do not think high of her, ideas keep on roaming her mind.

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Plot Keywords:

pregnant | wedding | marriage | forest fire | title same as book | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

21 November 2012 (France)

Also Known As:

Therese D

Filming Locations:

Réserve naturelle et marais d'Houtin, Gironde, Aquitaine, France

Box Office

Budget:

$12,700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les films du 24, France 3 Cinéma, TF1 Droits Audiovisuels

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

French visa # 129141 delivered on 21-11-2012.

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Connections

Version of Therese (1962)

User Reviews

Great psychological portrayals, but confusing

This film is about a blue blooded woman marrying a tycoon, but quickly finds out that marriage is not a thing she likes.

The title "Thérèse Desqueyroux" doesn't give the plot away, but the Hong Kong Chinese title does. As a result, I kept guessing how the plot will turn out. Initially, we see Thérèse having a rather entangled relationship with Anne, which may or may not have played a part in her dissatisfaction in Thérèse's subsequent marriage. Then, the marriage itself is portrayed well, with the husband giving Thérèse much love that is clearly not reciprocated.

However, all these supposed seeds that led to the deed did not adequately explain Thérèse's criminal action. Without a plausible motive, I was left to wonder exactly why she did such a horrible deed. Such a lack of motive may drive suspense and keep viewers on edge, but in "Thérèse Desqueyroux" it only serves to confuse.

In addition, the subplot between Thérèse and Anne, and between Anne and Jean were left hanging, which was quite a pity. The amazing contrasts between the pre-deed, post-deed and liberated Thérèse could not help to lift "Thérèse Desqueyroux" to becoming a great film. I think it is a good film but it is unfortunately masked by hanging subplots and confusion.