Beautiful film where the action is mainly substantive. The story takes place in the period after the revolution, during which the population suffered under the terror of Robespierre and his associates. The grim, unhinged chaos in which friend and foe alike had to fear for their lives, and where everyone did everything to save their own skin, is depicted vividly. The atmosphere in and around the dilapidated Picpus convent is delectable. Isild Le Besco and Marianne Denicourt are truly captivating and Daniel Auteuil plays a wonderfully engaging Sade. It's impressive how Benoît Jacquot contrasts the literary perversity of De Sade with the much greater literal perversity of the revolution. Just because of the climax in the barn, this film probably wouldn't be allowed to be made today. All the snowflakes would go completely berserk. A great movie for anyone who loves French history.