Tepidly Paced ‘The Duchess of Langeais’ a Costume Drama Lacking the Dramatic

CHICAGO – Honoré de Balzac is a famous French writer from the post-Napoleonic age who focused on the societal mores with a sense of realism that hadn’t been seen in literature until that point. He reveled in the oblique moral ambiguity of the human condition.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

In that sense, it may be better to pick one of his many books or plays because the film adaptation of his short story “The Duchess of Langeais” can’t match up to the essence of his prose.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Duchess of Langeais” in our reviews section. View our full “The Duchess of Langeais” image gallery.

Shown in flashback, duchess Antoinette de Langeais (Jeanne Balibar) is a married and bored aristocrat who spends her time frequenting the extravagant balls of 1820s Paris.

At one such event, she meets general Armand de Montriveau (Guillaume Depardieu, who is Gerald Depardieu’s son).

Inflamed by the Antoinette’s many charms, Armand sets his cap on wooing the society maven. Entranced by the general’s attention, Antoinette begins a series of cat-and-mouse games to keep him attentive yet at arm’s length.

Despite his intent and perseverance, Armand can’t seduce the elusive duchess. When he decides to issue his revenge, in a strange plot twist he finally succeeds in gaining the affection he so long desired.

Jeanne Balibar as Antoinette de Langeais and Guillaume Depardieu as Armand de Montriveau in “The Duchess of Langeais,” which is directed by Jacques Rivette. Photo credit: Moune Jamet

Jeanne Balibar as Antoinette de Langeais in “The Duchess of Langeais,” which is directed by Jacques Rivette. Photo credit: Moune Jamet

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “The Duchess of Langeais” review.

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