Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Judy Davis | ... | George Sand | |
Hugh Grant | ... | Frederic Chopin | |
Mandy Patinkin | ... | Alfred De Musset | |
Bernadette Peters | ... | Marie D'Agoult | |
Julian Sands | ... | Franz Liszt | |
Ralph Brown | ... | Eugene Delacroix | |
Georges Corraface | ... | Felicien Mallefille | |
Anton Rodgers | ... | Duke D'Antan | |
Emma Thompson | ... | Duchess D'Antan | |
Anna Massey | ... | George Sand's Mother | |
![]() |
David Birkin | ... | Maurice |
Nimer Rashed | ... | Didier | |
![]() |
Fiona Vincente | ... | Solange |
John Savident | ... | Buloz | |
Lucy Speed | ... | Young Aurora |
1830s Paris. Novelist George Sand (Judy Davis), who is known to be writing her memoirs, is causing a sensation in the literary scene not only for the quality of her writing, but because of her extreme views and manners, including blurring the lines between the sexes - she generally wearing men's clothes - and her non-belief in the sanctity of marriage after having gone through the institution once before, now preferring sexual liaisons outside of her own wedlock, with the marital status of her lovers of no concern to her. She is just coming to the end of a turbulent affair with Jean Pierre Félicien Mallefille (Georges Corraface), who she is now trying to avoid in his continual pursuit of her. Despite thinking it will be a bore because of their insufferable hostess, she invites herself to a weekend gathering of some of France's greatest artistic and creative minds - many who are attending solely for a weekend of free food - at the country estate of the Duke (Anton Rodgers) and Duchess ... Written by Huggo
This film is a little different than most "period" films in that its characters, although known historical figures, are real people and certainly not above swearing, throwing fits, drinking, smoking or carousing. A wonderful comedy romance with an outstanding performance by Judy Davis as George Sands.
It is also interesting to note how closely the plot of this movie resembles that of Renoir's classic "Rules of the Game": 1) group of romantically and socially inbred cityfolk go to the country, 2) romantic and social inbreeding continue in the country, 3) people slipping from room to room, 4) mistaken identity, 5) hunting in the woods, 6) big hunting scene, 7) gender-bending, 8) poking fun at the upper classes, and 9) climactic theater performance chock full of satire and causing some conflict. This similarity can be no accident.