Diary of a Chambermaid (2015)

A scheming servant works for a wealthy couple in France during the late 19th century.

Director:

Benoît Jacquot

Writers:

Hélène Zimmer (scenario), Benoît Jacquot (scenario)

Stars:

Léa Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, Clotilde Mollet

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Léa Seydoux	...	Célestine
Vincent Lindon	...	Joseph
Clotilde Mollet	...	Madame Lanlaire
Hervé Pierre	...	Monsieur Lanlaire
Mélodie Valemberg	...	Marianne
Patrick d'Assumçao	...	Le capitaine
Vincent Lacoste	...	Georges
Joséphine Derenne	...	La grand-mère de Georges
Dominique Reymond	...	La placeuse
Rosette	...	Rose
Adriana Asti	...	Elvira Parsi, la maquerelle
Aurélia Petit	...	La maîtresse (train)
Jean-Louis Croquet	...	Le maître (train)
Alain Eloy	...	Le douanier
Yvette Petit	...	Madame Gouin, la mercière

Storyline

In the early 1900s, in the French provinces. Célestine a beautiful and libertarian young woman, who has been hired as a chambermaid by the Lanlaires, arrives from Paris at the train station. Joseph, her masters' gruff gardener takes her to the house where she is to work. She is "welcomed" by Mr. Lanlaire who immediately starts fondling her. She then meets Mrs. Lanlaire, a very unpleasant woman with a class superiority. All this bodes ill for the future...

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Plot Keywords:

train | france | chambermaid | police | killing a dog | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Mars Distribution [France]

Country:

France Belgium

Language:

French

Release Date:

1 April 2015 (France)

Also Known As:

Diary of a Chambermaid

Filming Locations:

Berck, Pas-de-Calais, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,067, 12 June 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$46,675, 26 June 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Lendemain, JPG Productions, Les Films du Fleuve

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (as Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marion Cotillard was director Benoît Jacquot's original choice to play Celestine. Had she starred in the film, it would have been the second time that she would have played a character that was played by Jeanne Moreau. Cotillard played the younger version of Moreau's character in Lisa (2001) and Moreau played Celestine in Diary of a Chambermaid (1964).

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Connections

Version of Emmenez-moi au théâtre: Le journal d'une femme de chambre (1982)

User Reviews

I won't return to my chamber maid.

The third version of Octave Mirbeau's novel and by far the weakest.Marion Cotillard was to play Célestine but she was eventually replaced by Léa Seydoux, whose inexpressive looks and listless acting do not help;and anyway she is no match for Jeanne Moreau ,the best Celestine ever,even though Luis Bunuel's story underwent some changes - when the master tackles a novel ,he integrates his obsessions ,and he makes it his own.

The movie suffers ,not only from Seydoux's monotonous portrayal,but also from a terribly desultory script (both Renoir's and Bunuel's efforts had firm screenplays.)

Let's put it straight:I did not expect much from a third version but I did watch it because Vincent Lindon is in it;unfortunately his part is reduced to a sex machine and he is not given a single chance to show his skills ;in Bunuel's version,Georges Géret made all his scenes count .

The cinematography is fine and the last pictures rather tasteful,but the movie will be quickly forgotten.