Cast: Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Lucy Russell, Alain Libolt, Charlotte Véry, Rosette, Léonard Cobiant, François Marthouret
Director: Eric Rohmer
Producer: Françoise Etchegaray
Screenplay: Eric Rohmer, based on "Journal of My Life During the French Revolution" by Grace Elliott
Cinematography: Diane Baratier
U.S. Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
In French with subtitles
Legendary filmmaker Eric Rohmer has a tradition of making an historical film every time he finishes one of his series of contemporary features. Thus, after completing his Tales of Four Seasons cycle, Rohmer has turned his attention to the 1790s and the French revolution. The result is L'Anglaise et le duc, a production that recounts the horrors of the times through the eyes of a young Scottish aristocrat, Grace Elliott (Lucy Russell), who found herself stranded in Paris during this turbulent era. Her deep friendship with the Duke of Orleans (Jean-Claude Dreyfus) forms the background of the film - the two were once lovers, but, after their romantic relationship ended, they became great friends.
Rohmer has done two unique things in this movie. The first is to tell the story based exclusively upon the memoirs of one person, rather than drawing upon numerous sources. The second is not to do any location shooting, claiming that "the face of Paris has changed so drastically that there is not one line of sight left from revolutionary times." Consequently, most of the movie takes place inside. For outside shots, Rohmer uses matte paintings and computer graphics to re-create the backgrounds. Unfortunately, since Rohmer lacked the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster, his digital work is not perfect. The paintings look like paintings rather than realistic backdrops.
Technical issues like that, however, do not obscure the essential strength of the movie: the two central characters, and the political issues that divide and unite them. While L'Anglaise et le duc is not in any way a thriller, there are moments when Rohmer generates some tension as Grace becomes the target of "patriots" who believe she is harboring a fugitive (she is) and that her sympathies lie with the factions of the British government that oppose the revolution (they don't). As a unique perspective upon a period of time about which much has been written and filmed, this is an effective piece of drama.
One of the characteristics of most Rohmer films - lengthy, compelling dialogue - is largely missing. Characters do a lot of talking, but their verbal exchanges are not as lively or as engrossing as is the case in the filmmaker's contemporary films. Those who are not enraptured by Rohmer's fascination with how individuals converse may find this to be a more intriguing effort than his "typical" productions. Nevertheless, even without the sparkling dialogue, L'Anglaise et le duc is still a worthwhile motion picture, with far more in the way of content than almost anything playing even in art houses these days.
© 2002 James Berardinelli