Sometimes a classic theater piece needs to be updated to the present taste in order to make it more palatable to audiences that have not been exposed to these types of long forgotten plays, in this case. The work of the French dramatist Pierre De Marivaux gets an interesting reinterpretation in the hands of Benoit Jacquot, who obviously knew how to bring the material to the screen in a delicious adaptation of "La Fausse Suivante", a play written in 1724.
It is basically a work about duplicity and artifice, as a noble woman decides to disguise herself as chevalier, to expose the machinations of Lelio, who wants to capitalize on a promise he has given to a countess because he has found another woman with considerable bigger fortune. Lelio is duped by the dashing chevalier, who is in reality the woman he intends to get.
Beautifully acted by an ensemble cast. Filmed totally in a theater, M. Jacquot blocked the action to flow naturally, something that works for him. We are seeing a theatrical production what comes out of the stage into the audience, only in this instance, the playhouse is empty. Isabelle Huppert shines as the countess. There is nothing this actress cannot do. She feels right at home delivering the text. The revelation is Sandrine Kiberlain who gives life to the chevalier. Matthieu Amalric plays the duplicitous Lelio. Veteran Pierre Arditi is excellent as the conniving Trivelin.
It is basically a work about duplicity and artifice, as a noble woman decides to disguise herself as chevalier, to expose the machinations of Lelio, who wants to capitalize on a promise he has given to a countess because he has found another woman with considerable bigger fortune. Lelio is duped by the dashing chevalier, who is in reality the woman he intends to get.
Beautifully acted by an ensemble cast. Filmed totally in a theater, M. Jacquot blocked the action to flow naturally, something that works for him. We are seeing a theatrical production what comes out of the stage into the audience, only in this instance, the playhouse is empty. Isabelle Huppert shines as the countess. There is nothing this actress cannot do. She feels right at home delivering the text. The revelation is Sandrine Kiberlain who gives life to the chevalier. Matthieu Amalric plays the duplicitous Lelio. Veteran Pierre Arditi is excellent as the conniving Trivelin.