LOST ILLUSIONS (ILLUSIONS PERDUES)
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THURSDAY, JUNE 2 - 7:00pm
LET'S TALK ABOUT FILMS... |
Director: Xavier Giannoli CAST: HISTORICAL DRAMA, ROMANCE U.S. Distribution: |
How fitting to open the 21st Sacramento French Film Festival with the big winner of the 2022 Césars! The film took home seven awards, including Best Film! In 1821, Lucien de Rubempré (Benjamin Voisin, winner of the 2022 César for Most Promising Actor), a naïve yet ambitious aspiring poet, escapes his small town, determined to make a name for himself in Paris. Lucien calls himself “de Rubempré,” despite having no rights to the name (his mother was a Rubempré, but his father was a commoner) and hopes to infiltrate Parisian aristocratic society with the help of his protector and mistress, Louise de Bargeton (Cécile de France). Pressed to make a living before his poems get published, Lucien finds himself swept into the booming world of journalism. Under the mentorship of a new friend, the cynical editor Étienne Lousteau (Vincent Lacoste, winner of the 2022 César for Best Supporting Actor, French Kissers - SFFF 2010, Jacky in the Kingdom of Women - SFFF 2015), Lucien agrees to write theater and book reviews, good or bad depending on where the bribes come from, making or breaking the reputations of artists with insouciant impunity. Achieving material success at the expense of his conscience, will sweet Lucien survive this ruthless world and the loss of his illusions? Xavier Giannoli (In the Beginning – Opening Film SFFF 2010, Marguerite – Closing Film SFFF 2016) had dreamed of adapting Honoré de Balzac's epic novel since he started making movies. His sweeping rendition of one of the classics of French literature is a whirlwind: the camera flies above the sumptuous sets and dances around the actors (an all-star cast including Gérard Depardieu at his best, and Canadian director Xavier Dolan who was nominated for 2022 César in the Best Supporting Actor category; Lacoste won the Award). Lost Illusions is a masterpiece of images and emotions that resonate with today’s world of fake news and immoral media. Full list of César Awards: Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Supporting Actor, and Most Promising Actor. The 21st Sacramento French Film Festival presents another film based on a novel by Honoré de Balzac: Eugenie Grandet, the intimate portrait of a young woman dominated by a cruel father, screening is at the Crest Theatre on Saturday June 11, 2022 at 1:00pm. LET'S TALK ABOUT FILMS... Reviews With its stellar performances, dramatic orchestral score and rich costume and set design, Illusions Perdues is a worthwhile, sweeping narrative of love, lust and literary ambition. Giannoli has not only produced a meaty and provocative adaptation of a Balzac gem, but also one of the funniest and most romantic films of the year. Adam Solomons - Little White Lies THURSDAY, JUNE 2 - 7:00pm - TOWER THEATRE - PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE! |
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