Les destinées (2000)

In late nineteenth century Charante, Protestant minister Jean Barnery causes local disquiet when he arranges a separation from his obsessive wife - and more talk when he decides to take her... See full summary »

Director:

Olivier Assayas

Writers:

Olivier Assayas, Jacques Chardonne (novel)

Stars:

Emmanuelle Béart, Charles Berling, Isabelle Huppert

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emmanuelle Béart	...	Pauline Pommerel
Charles Berling	...	Jean Barnery
Isabelle Huppert	...	Nathalie Barnery
Olivier Perrier	...	Philippe Pommerel
Dominique Reymond	...	Julie Desca
André Marcon	...	Paul Desca
Alexandra London	...	Louise Desca
Julie Depardieu	...	Marcelle
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing	...	Arthur Pommerel
Valérie Bonneton	...	Arthur Pommerel's wife
Pascal Bongard	...	Vouzelles
Didier Flamand	...	Guy Barnery
Jean-Baptiste Malartre	...	Frédéric Barnery
Nicolas Pignon	...	Bavouzet
Catherine Mouchet	...	Fernande

Storyline

In late nineteenth century Charante, Protestant minister Jean Barnery causes local disquiet when he arranges a separation from his obsessive wife - and more talk when he decides to take her back. By this time he has been drawn to Pauline, niece of a Cognac distiller, and this precipitates him divorcing his wife, settling on her and his daughter the shares he owns in his family's porcelain factory. He resigns the ministry, marries Pauline, and moves to Switzerland and a tranquil life. On the death of his father he agrees to return home to save the factory, knowing the problems it will bring will change his life completely. So it proves, with service in the Great War having a further profound impact on him and those around him.

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Plot Keywords:

factory | will | switzerland | protestant | porcelain | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Berling also stars in Olivier Assayas's Demonlover (2002) and Summer Hours (2008).

User Reviews

Exemplary period film

This exquisite three hour film, set in France, begins at 1900 and ends around 1930, covering in the way three decades in the life of an idealistic man, Jean Barnery, who, although began as an protestant priest, ended up becoming an industrialist in his family porcelain factory. Through the life of a complex character, a full web of compromises, illusions, deceptions, tragedies, and mistakes emerges, capturing accurately the conflictual transformations of the era as a relation to the hero's personal journey. Despite its novelistic structure that sometimes diminishes its dramatic power through big time lapses, the film manages to retain its own life and conviction through careful development of its main ideas that pervade the whole story: The unavoidable compromises, the vicissitudes of life, the difficulty in applying your ideals, the emotional fulfillment and the problems of commitment, the futility of things. Easy answers are not provided, sometimes questions are more important. Exquisitely directed by the talented Olivier Assayas, and wonderfully performed (Emanuelle Beart and Charles Berling give subtle and nuanced performances, capturing perfectly the transitions in their characters' emotional state) the film, contrary to other period pieces, never lags despite the length. A must see for people interested in a serious piece of filmmaking.

Details

Official Sites:

Pathé / FKGB

Country:

France Switzerland

Language:

French

Release Date:

12 July 2000 (France)

Also Known As:

Les destinées

Filming Locations:

Gare, Champigny-sur-Veude, Indre-et-Loire, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$230,900

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$231,293

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arena Films, TF1 Films Production, CAB Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1