The Lady and the Duke
- Jean -Claude Dreyfus: Duke of Orléans
- Lucy Russell: Grace Elliott
- Alain Libolt: Duke of Biron
- Charlotte Véry: Pulcherie, the cook
- Rosette: Fanchette
- Léonard Cobiant: Champcenetz
- François Marthouret: Dumouriez
- Caroline Morin: Nanon
- Héléna Dubiel: Madame Meyler
- Laurent Le Doyen: Officer
- Georges Benoît: President
- Daniel Tarrare: Justin
- Marie Rivière Madame Laurent
- Michel Demierre: François Chabot
- Serge Renko: Pierre Vergniaud
- Christian America: Élie Guadet
- François -Marie Banier: Maximilien de Robespierre
The Lady and the Duke is a French period drama by Éric Rohmer 's 2001, which is based on the memoirs of the Scottish courtesan Grace Elliott. It was in France on 7 September 2001 premiere; in Germany it was released in theaters on March 21st of the following year.
Action
The English Lady Grace Elliott is drawn out of love for Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, cousin of Louis XVI. , To France. When the relationship falls apart, a deep friendship remains, which is not at risk despite the different political stance: the lady holding firmly to the king, while the Duke is permeated with revolutionary ideas. Even after the outbreak of the French Revolution, the two appreciate each other still.
As a member of the National Convention agrees to the Duke for the execution of the king - his cousin. Grace wants to move him to take back his voice, but what you do not succeed, and the friendship is almost on the line. After all, she succeeds with his help, the proscribed royalist Champcenetz, arch-enemy of the Duke, to save them from the revolutionary Jacobins.
Grace is soon arrested and sentenced thereon before the Revolutionary Tribunal to death, pardoned by Maximilien de Robespierre, however. Louis -Philippe is arrested, however, after the arrest of all the Bourbons has been arranged, and sentenced to death. On November 6, 1793, he died under the guillotine.
Background
The film is based on the memoirs Journal de ma vie durant la Révolution française (Diary of my life during the French Revolution) by Grace Elliott, a Scottish courtesan and adheres closely to the historical facts as well as the literary model, from the whole passages almost verbatim were taken.
The outdoor scenes play out completely before painted backdrops. To this end, let Éric Rohmer Director 37 wallpapers painting by contemporary accounts. With blue screen technique then the performers were copied into the scenery. This can be seen most clearly in the opening scene: First, a painting can be seen with a street view. Shortly afterwards, the painted people become genuine and begin to move.
Reviews
The lexicon of international film praises The Lady and the Duke, he was " visually stunning film" and a " convincing emphasizes impartial historical outline, which makes appear the visual reality of the era in a playful way. "
The film magazine Cinema thinks Rohmer collates the complex issue " in a few concise sequences -. History takes place as a chamber play " Have you, however, once accustomed to the " minimalism " go " of this policy with the private verquickende text Marathon not only to the heart, but also to the kidneys. "
Awards
- European Film Awards 2001: Nominations for Éric Rohmer ( Best Director )
- César 2002: Nomination for Pierre -Jean Larroque ( Best Costume ) and Antoine Fontaine ( Best Art Direction )