Sunday, April 25, 2010

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)

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.
Until Paris ...

4 comments:

A 2 Z said...

Bonjour Cynthia,

Saw your blog name on somebody's post and decided to come and visit you! I'm also going to Paris in a few months and I also created a blog in preparation of the big event! I have been before and this time I want to go to Provence. I cant wait. I would love to be rich and move to France near Paris. Do you have any quick solutions in becoming rich? LOL I have never seen this movie but will come back later in the evening to watch it. I'm a follower!

Anonymous said...

Hi Cynthia,
Please take a look at my Paris Insights Facebook fan page. I post information about Paris there everyday! http://www.companies.to/parisinsights.
See you there!
Tom Reeves

Unknown said...

Oh!! I love it!! I have a small book collection and among them Balzac`s La Peau de Chagrin. Fantastic post Cheri!

The Armchair Parisian said...

Sounds fun ~ I shall make a note!

From the BBC series on Paris, Blood and Chocolate (Part 2 of 3). Enjoy!

Streets of Paris - I shot this the day I left Paris, on a rainy September morning.

Small group Paris tours for women