The Duchess of Langeais (2007)

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

4 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:

seduction game | unrequited love | married woman | spurned man | passionate love | 

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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

Filming Locations:

Tremiti Islands, Foggia, Apulia, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,251, 24 February 2008

Gross USA:

$281,468

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

Rivette-directed Balzac story about love?

I did not like this film -- I found it difficult to understand, ragged transitions between scenes, and that it had no point, not to mention many unanswered questions and facts that neither matched the film nor fit the plot. The plot was thin and uninteresting. And if this is love, I don't want any part of it! Many others in the theater walked out before it was over. I know Rivette is an excellent director, but I think he fell down on this one. I guess the acting was okay, but there was so little conversation in the film that it was difficult to tell. Frankly, and I'm sorry to say this, it was like watching 4 coats of paint dry -- consecutively. One of the most boring I've ever seen. I would like to know how this film played in France.