Angélique

The new Angélique is an exemplarily different film from Bernard Borderie's series, which has seen thousands of reruns. However, why should we expect a copy of the romantic adventures of the 17th-century protagonist in the 1960s concept when the meanings and parabolas keep shifting to our present? Ariel Zeitoun works much more with the darker atmosphere of courtly period life, but even so, the story of the young rebel de Sancé de Monteloup dominates in the gloom of candlelight, as she eventually realizes that even her elderly husband, the Comte de Peyrac, has something to offer. Shy eroticism alternates with a more explicit notion of marital duties, and the metaphor of Fragonard's swing helps to cut the time during which Angélique and Joffrey become parents in quick succession. Then follows the first chapter of the famous Parisian intrigues. It's about time. (2014.07.24)

The French might have some ingenious strategy of shooting remakes because exactly ten years before the filming of this new Angelica, a remake of Fan-Fan the Tulip, very similar in style, appeared in the DVD rental in our city. So if you know that and know the original Angelica, you have some idea what this movie looks like. The new Angelica, however, has several things working to its advantage. For example, the beautiful Nora Arnezeder. But it also uses beautiful exteriors, which I really enjoyed. There are not only Austrian castles, but also Czech ones. Those were my favorites. Under the digital camera, they look like from the documentary Národní klenoty with the awesome commentary by Mr. Táborský. Surprisingly, I did not see him in this film, although he usually doesn’t miss an opportunity to work with foreign film crews. But I was very amused by Count de Peyrac, played by the sixty-year-old Lanvin. His sexual scene with Angelica was therefore something else. I didn’t know whether it was good or bad, even though Nora is a really gorgeous actress. All in all, this film is an okay way to kill some time on a gloomy Saturday. It is a remake, which is always bad in and of itself but it has some good moments. (2015.01.17)