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Bookmark this pageLa Belle personne (2008)
Director: Christophe Honoré
Movie review
From Time Out Online
Delicately reigning in the pretensions and hit-and-miss eccentricities that peppered his previous films (‘Ma Mere’, ‘Dans Paris’, ‘Chansons d’Amour’), prolific French writer/director Christophe Honoré delivers a spry, impulsive modern-day adaptation of Madame de Lafayette’s 17th century novel, 'La Princesse de Clèves', set amongst the (mostly foppish and attractive) students of a Parisian lycée. It’s perhaps his most direct and pleasurable work yet. Garrel plays the roguish Italian teacher who engages in numerous casual affairs with staff and pupils until he’s smitten by wistful new girl Junie (Seydoux – pleasingly mystifying). There are some final-reel twists where the classical text awkwardly nudges to the fore, but the unfussy shooting style and naturalistic performances lend the film a charming, New Wave throwback vibe.Author: David Jenkins
Time Out Online
Cast & crew
Director: Christophe Honoré
Cast: Louis Garrel, Léa Seydoux, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet full cast
Duration: 97 mins
US Release: Mar 6 2009
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