Lincoln Center, New York
NEW YORK -- This rain-swept, gloomy affair is prolific French director Benoit Jacquot's adaptation of a 19th century novel by Benjamin Constant. The semiautobiographical source material seems rich in passion and social intrigue. But evocative misty landscapes, breathy voice-overs and oceans of Mozart and Schumann on the soundtrack can't make the tale come alive on the big screen.
"Adolphe", screening as part of the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Rendezvous With French Cinema series, is a workmanlike piece that doesn't rise above a run-of-the-mill historical drama. It lacks the sophisticated eye for relationships that Jacquot ("Tosca", "Sade") brought to early dramas like "A Single Girl". Rather, it feels like he is going through the motions, chapter by chapter. Nevertheless, it might appeal to culture buffs who like their movies as solid as their scholarly tomes.
The story focuses on the titular Adolphe (Stanislas Merhar), a melancholy young lad who becomes smitten by the voluptuous charms of elder widow Ellenore (Isabelle Adjani). At first, Ellenore rejects his advances, claiming that she's just the flavor of the month for the youth. But persistence has its reward, and she comes to return his feelings. Soon after, he starts to feel trapped by his older woman. The story evolves as a series of emotional reversals -- she falls out of love with him, he falls back in love with her, etc. -- until Ellenore dies, and Adolphe realizes she was the one he wanted after all.
Merhar's chiseled good looks and intense demeanor make him a good fit for the rebellious Adolphe, though he's finally sunk by the grim monotony of the role. Adjani plays the 19th century equivalent of a bored housewife. Ellenore has little do except eat, sleep and send the children off to play in the herborium. Adjani is pleasantly pallid and glamorous, but she never finds her way into the part. Both performers appear to be straitjacketed by the literary incarnations of their characters.
Jacquot attempts to give the story a lift by using faster edits than expected in a period drama. But generally, "Adolphe" looks like the work of a director for hire.
ADOLPHE
An ARP co-production with France 3 Cinema with the participation of Canal Plus
Credits:
Director: Benoit Jacquot
Screenwriters: Benoit Jacquot, Fabrice Roger-Lacan
Producers: Laurent Petin, Michele Petin
Director of photography: Benoit Delhomme
Production designer: Katia Wyszkop
Costume designer: Catherine Bouchard
Editor: Luc Barnier
Cast:
Ellenore: Isabelle Adjani
Adolphe: Stanislas Merhar
The Count: Jean Yanne
D'Erfeuil: Romain Duris
Running time -- 102 minutes
No MPAA rating...
NEW YORK -- This rain-swept, gloomy affair is prolific French director Benoit Jacquot's adaptation of a 19th century novel by Benjamin Constant. The semiautobiographical source material seems rich in passion and social intrigue. But evocative misty landscapes, breathy voice-overs and oceans of Mozart and Schumann on the soundtrack can't make the tale come alive on the big screen.
"Adolphe", screening as part of the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Rendezvous With French Cinema series, is a workmanlike piece that doesn't rise above a run-of-the-mill historical drama. It lacks the sophisticated eye for relationships that Jacquot ("Tosca", "Sade") brought to early dramas like "A Single Girl". Rather, it feels like he is going through the motions, chapter by chapter. Nevertheless, it might appeal to culture buffs who like their movies as solid as their scholarly tomes.
The story focuses on the titular Adolphe (Stanislas Merhar), a melancholy young lad who becomes smitten by the voluptuous charms of elder widow Ellenore (Isabelle Adjani). At first, Ellenore rejects his advances, claiming that she's just the flavor of the month for the youth. But persistence has its reward, and she comes to return his feelings. Soon after, he starts to feel trapped by his older woman. The story evolves as a series of emotional reversals -- she falls out of love with him, he falls back in love with her, etc. -- until Ellenore dies, and Adolphe realizes she was the one he wanted after all.
Merhar's chiseled good looks and intense demeanor make him a good fit for the rebellious Adolphe, though he's finally sunk by the grim monotony of the role. Adjani plays the 19th century equivalent of a bored housewife. Ellenore has little do except eat, sleep and send the children off to play in the herborium. Adjani is pleasantly pallid and glamorous, but she never finds her way into the part. Both performers appear to be straitjacketed by the literary incarnations of their characters.
Jacquot attempts to give the story a lift by using faster edits than expected in a period drama. But generally, "Adolphe" looks like the work of a director for hire.
ADOLPHE
An ARP co-production with France 3 Cinema with the participation of Canal Plus
Credits:
Director: Benoit Jacquot
Screenwriters: Benoit Jacquot, Fabrice Roger-Lacan
Producers: Laurent Petin, Michele Petin
Director of photography: Benoit Delhomme
Production designer: Katia Wyszkop
Costume designer: Catherine Bouchard
Editor: Luc Barnier
Cast:
Ellenore: Isabelle Adjani
Adolphe: Stanislas Merhar
The Count: Jean Yanne
D'Erfeuil: Romain Duris
Running time -- 102 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 3/18/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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