Have You See The Duchess of Langeais?

Moune Jamet/IFC Films

My weekend indulgence was stepping inside the world of nineteenth century Paris via the cinema and watching this mesmerizing film: The Duchess of Langeais, based on a short story by the French writer Balzac.

(French, with English subtitles)

'Duchess of Langeais' - Trailer No. 1 - Moviefone

It is an artsy period movie that is quite the confection, not without an ever-present and haunting gloom that is in the vein of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.

First, I watched The Duchess of Langeais for the story, the costumes, the drama, and after having been completely swept away, I will watch it a second, and perhaps a third time, for my French language lessons. For now, I can say "Mon frair" (my brother) - a phrase from the movie.

Have you seen this movie? If not, I highly recommend it if you want to go back in time and visit Paris during the Napoleonic/aristocratic era.

Here is the original story by Balzac, translated into English.

Until Paris ...