Summary
5th September 1661 is an important date in the history of France, since
this was the day on which Fouquet, the powerful advisor to the king,
was arrested by Colbert, making the young Louis XIV the sole governor
of his kingdom. As other artists line up to champion the
divine right of the king, the poet Jean de La Fontaine abstains and
merely voices his support for the ousted Fouquet. Colbert is
incensed and resolves to bring the rebellious poet to heel. But
from that day, La Fontaine would remain true to his convictions.
Penniless and reviled, he resists Colbert’s taunts and occupies himself
by writing his famous fables and scathing pamphlets against what he
knew to be despotic and decadent government...
Review
A few months after the release of Molière (2007), the life
of another celebrated French writer comes under the spotlight in Jean de La Fontaine - Le défi.
Directed by Daniel Vigne, who is still best known for Le Retour de Martin Guerre
(1982), the film attempts to shed some light on the life and character
of a writer about whom surprisingly little is known.
Although it has a fine cast and some exemplary production values (the
sets and costumes are stunning), the film is a bland, plodding affair
and, lacking in focus and cohesion, soon becomes tedious. Vigne’s
direction lacks the inspired touch of his previous work, although the
film’s real attention killers are its lacklustre photography and
flaccid screenplay, which fails to offer anything more than a
superficial and hackneyed portrayal of the central character and
the period he inhabits.
© Mark Jones 2011
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© Mark Jones 2011
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Useful links
- Best French films of 2011
- Best French films of the 2000s
- Best of the French New Wave
- Best of French film comedy
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- Great French filmmakers
Related links
- Other French films of the 2000s
- The best French films of the 2000s
- Other French historical films
- The best French historical films
- Biography and films of Daniel Vigne
To buy this film
Check DVD and Blu-ray availability:
Credits
- Director: Daniel Vigne
- Script: Jacques Forgeas, Jean de La Fontaine
- Photo: Flore Thulliez
- Music: Michel Portal
- Cast: Lorànt Deutsch (Jean de La Fontaine), Philippe Torreton (Colbert), Sara Forestier (Perrette), Jean-Claude Dreyfus (M. de Chateauneuf), Élodie Navarre (La duchesse de Bouillon), Julien Courbey (Molière), Jocelyn Quivrin (Louis XIV), Daniel Duval (Terron), Armelle (Melle Léotot), Jean-Pierre Malo (Jannart), Sylviane Goudal (La rateau), Romain Rondeau (Racine), Mélanie Maudran (Mme de la Sablière), Jean-Paul Farré (Claude Barbin), Jérémie Lippmann (Valère), Fabienne Babe (La duchesse d’Orléans), Virginie Desarnauts (Mme de Sévigné), Emmanuelle Galabru (Mme de La Fontaine), Jean-François Perrier (Chapelain), Nicky Naude (Fouquet), Chick Ortega (Un braconnier), Dominique Besnehard (Le marchand de vêtements), Mathieu Bisson (Boileau), Théodule Carré-Cassaigne, Héloise Godet (Aurore), Juliette Laurent (Comédienne Molière), Christel Wallois (Mademoiselle d’Alençon)
- Country: France
- Language: French
- Runtime: 100 min
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To buy Jean de La Fontaine – Le défi:

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