While I did admire many things about this French film I came away thinking that it was strangely uninvolving. Story is about a landowner who wants to start a project in his precinct where the local swamps and canals would be drained so that they can keep the mosquito population down because many people are getting sick and dying. Ponceludon (Charles Berling) heads to Versailles to see Louis XVI and ask him for a grant to pay for the project but Louis XVI is only interested in people with very sharp wit. The society in that area thrives on wit as much as money has value. An older man named Bellegarde (Jean Rochefort) takes him under his wing and advises him on how to use wit. Much to everyone's surprise Ponceludon is very good with wit and he gets to socialize with those near Louis XVI. Ponceludon falls in love with Bellegarde's daughter Mathilde (Judith Godreche) who is young and pretty and bosomy and is conducting research with a diving suit. Ponceludon seduces Madame de Blayac (Fanny Ardant) who knows his intentions but she uses him as well. Film is directed by Patrice Leconte who has always shown great sets and locations and this is a very impressive looking film. The performances are top notch and Rochefort seems born to play these types of roles. The best shot in the film comes near the end with Ardant who has been spurned by her lover even though he killed her previous suitor in a duel. The look of hurt and embarrassment on her face was the strongest in the film. Ardant despite her age is still easily one of the most beautiful women in the world. She exudes tremendous sexiness and the scene where she plays footsy under the table is a very sexy scene. But the film maintains its distance emotionally and it really doesn't allow the viewer to gather up any connection with it. One of the plot lines that should have had more impact is the romance between Berling and Godreche. Her breasts are practically falling out of her dress and he usually just stands there and tells her to be careful with her research. The romance between them just doesn't take off. It's not a bad film, in fact its pretty interesting but when its over you get the feeling that this film should have roped its viewers in better emotionally. All the ingredients are there. Good director, excellent actors, great locations and sets but something was lacking in the way the story was told.
Review of Ridicule
