SATURDAY, JUNE 11 - 1:00pm
CREST THEATRE

Screening followed by a Q&A with Dr. Mona Siegel, Professor of History, Sacramento State University.

After our opening film, Lost Illusions, we are happy to present another film based on a literary classic by Honoré de Balzac. Eugénie Grandet is as intimate as Lost Illusions is flamboyant, with both stories being equally gripping and relevant to our contemporary world.

Félix Grandet (the always brilliant Olivier Gourmet) is an extremely wealthy and ruthless merchant, claiming to be poor even to his wife (Valérie Bonneton) and daughter Eugénie (Joséphine Japy). He tyrannically rules the humble provincial house where they live a joyless and frugal existence. In her solitude, Eugénie daydreams of romantic love. None of her few suitors fit her expectations, but since her father has no interest in spending money on her dowry, she doesn't worry too much about them. The situation changes with the unexpected arrival of Grandet’s nephew and Eugénie's cousin, Charles (César Domboy, whom some of you may know as Fergus from Outlander). While Charles is an idle and bankrupt Parisian dandy, Eugénie nevertheless recognizes in him the love of her dreams. But Félix Grandet still has no intention of allowing his daughter to marry, especially to a ruined man. Eugénie's love and generosity towards her cousin plunges Félix into boundless rage. More than ever, he is willing to sacrifice everything on the altar of money.

Just like Lost Illusions, Eugénie Grandet demonstrates the power and modernity of Balzac’s storytelling. Director Marc Dugain (The Royal Exchange – Opening Night Film, SFFF 2018) created a beautiful film that, like the book that inspired it, denounces the fate reserved to women, whatever the era, when they are forced to submit to the whims of men with society’s blessing. Dugain gives his film a modern twist by slightly modifying the story’s ending.

The film is a plum role for SFFF-favorite Olivier Gourmet, one of the most powerful and prolific actors working in French cinema today, who previously worked with Marc Dugain on The Royal Exchange (Opening Night Film, SFFF 2018). We had a hard time finding all the films Gourmet has appeared in at the SFFF! Recent titles are De Gaulle and Red Soil – SFFF 2021, Cyrano, My Love – MiniFest 2019, Conviction – SFFF 2019,, The Midwife – SFFF 2018, and Come What May – SFFF 2016. He also has appeared in most of the Dardenne brothers’ films.

Q&A with Mona Siegel, Professor of History, Sacramento State University.

Review

Olivier Gourmet excels as a miserly capitalist who enslaves his freedom-seeking daughter in this adaptation of Balzac’s uncompromising novel. Fabien Lemercier - Cineuropa

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 - 1:00pm - CREST THEATRE - PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE!