Saint-Cyr (2000) - film review

In 1686, Madame de Maintenon, the last wife of King Louis XIV, founded Saint-Cyr, a private school for the daughters of nobles ruined by the preceding decades of war.  Intending her school not to be a monastery, Madame de Maintenon insists that the girls be given freedom to develop their artistic tastes and form their aspirations in an environment of openness and tolerance.  Her Utopian dream soon turns to ashes when two girls, Anne and Lucie, venture over the line of decency.   In a frantic attempt to reassert her control over the school, Madame de Maintenon engages a Lazarist priest to introduce a regime of asceticism.  But by this stage, the damage has already been done and a vicious battle of wills ensues...

With its impressive production values – particularly the elaborate sets and costumes – Saint-Cyr appears to have the hallmark of a quality period drama, of the kind in which French cinema excels.  With a cast headed by Isabelle Huppert, arguably France’s leading actress at the time, the film’s success ought to have been assured.  Unfortunately, like so many French historical dramas in recent years  (Roland Joffé’s Vatel, released the same year, being another example), good production values and star names alone cannot ensure a film’s success.

Saint-Cyr is not entirely a bad film, but it is sorely let down by its dependence on a cast of inexperienced young actresses (some of whom plainly cannot act to save their lives).   Dodgy acting aside, the film just fails to engage the audience – it just seems to drift purposelessly, without making full use of the dramatic potential in the script.  Isabelle Huppert gives a typically robust performance, although the material she is given doesn’t allow her much opportunity to shine.  This is a pity because, with a better script and a stronger supporting cast, the great lady could have been stunning in her role as Madame de Maintenon.

Whilst Saint-Cyr is attractively filmed and appears to give an authentic view of the period in which it is set, it is just too bland, unpolished and unfocused to leave any lasting impression.  With its references to Louis XIV and the writer Racine, the film may appeal to those who have an interest in this period of French history, but for the majority of film enthusiasts it probably has very little to offer.

© James Travers 2002

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