Ridicule (1996)

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Rémi Waterhouse (scenario)
Michel Fessler (collaboration) ...

Release Date:

22 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Il n'epargne personne.

Plot:

To get royal backing on a needed drainage project, a poor French lord must learn to play the delicate games of wit at court at Versailles.

Plot Keywords:

Court | France | Drainage Project | French | Piquet

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Charles Berling	...	Le Marquis Grégoire Ponceludon de Malavoy
Jean Rochefort	...	Le Marquis de Bellegarde
Fanny Ardant	...	Madame de Blayac
Judith Godrèche	...	Mathilde de Bellegarde
Bernard Giraudeau	...	L'Abbée de Vilecourt
Bernard Dhéran	...	Monsieur de Montalieri
Carlo Brandt	...	Le Chevalier de Milletail
Jacques Mathou	...	Abbé de l'Epée
Urbain Cancelier	...	Le Roi Louis XVI
Albert Delpy	...	Baron de Guéret
Bruno Zanardi	...	Paul
Marie Pillet	...	Charlotte
Jacques Roman	...	Chevernoy
Philippe Magnan	...	Baron de Malenval
Maurice Chevit	...	Le Notaire

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexuality and brief violence.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | France:U

Filming Locations:

Castle, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Seine-et-Marne, France

Company:

Epithète Films

Trivia:

Opening film at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

Quotes:

Abbe de Vilecourt: Fresh from the country, you must find our courtly ways ridiculous.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Baghead (2008)

Cutting humor truly a cut above

I have to say that this film is certainly not for an audience with a predilection for sophomoric or low-brow "hu-mah". The action in this film is nearly entirely a matter of verbal cut and thrust and quick repartee. A period piece shot in pre-revolutionary France in the days of King Louis and Marie Antoinette, Ridicule portrays an era when wit could earn a passport into courtly favor, and one verbal faux pas could ruin a man's reputation and position in society. Charles Berling's performance as Ponceledon, the rustic nobleman trying to bring his petition to drain the disease-infested swamps of his region before the King of France, is in a word, superb... Fanny Ardant is also a well-cast Madame de Blayac, the dexterously duplicitous countess who appears disposed towards aiding Ponceledon in his suit. Ridicule is a genuinely delightful comedy. I recommend it highly even to those who do not speak French. My rating: 9/10.