Le Grand Meaulnes (2006) Directed by Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe
Drama
Film Review
Le Grand Ennui would have been
a more accurate title. It is hard to find anything positive to
say about this cack-handed adaptation of Alain-Fournier's great novel,
a masterpiece of French literature which celebrates the idealism of
youth. How could a television director of the calibre of
Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe and a writer as distinguished as Jean Cosmos be
responsible for this sub-mediocre travesty of a film that is so totally
lacking in charm, narrative cohesion and sincerity?
It is not easy to pinpoint exactly why this film is so bad, but an
ill-chosen cast doesn't exactly help matters. Jean-Baptiste
Maunier is totally miscast (as becomes evident when his character has
to age to manhood and he still looks like a cute fourteen-year-old,
afflicted with the world's most unconvincing moustache) and Nicolas
Duvauchelle lacks the charisma for the part of Meaulnes.
But at least these two can act, which is more than can be said for
some of the other members of the cast.
The film parts company with the novel near its end and closes with a
sequence that is presumably inspired by the ultimate fate of
Alain-Fournier, who was killed in action at the beginning of World War
I. Even this part of the film fails to have a positive impact,
and instead it merely adds to the impression that virtually everyone
involved in the making of this film was suffering from an acute
creative bypass.
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Film Synopsis
November, 1910. Monsieur and Madame Seurel run a small boarding
school in a village in the Sologne region of France. One evening,
they take in a new pupil. 17-year-old Augustin Meaulnes, for whom their
son François develops an instant fascination. Augustin,
nicknamed "le grand Meaulnes" becomes a favourite amongst his
classmates, although his lack of discipline annoys his teacher.
One day, Augustin mysteriously disappears whilst taking a cart to the
station to collect François's grandparents. The next day,
Augustin returns unexpectedly and tells François the most
extraordinary story...
Script: Jean Cosmos, Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe,
Alain-Fournier (novel)
Cinematographer: Yves Lafaye
Music: Philippe Sarde
Cast:Nicolas Duvauchelle (Augustin Meaulnes),
Jean-Baptiste Maunier (François Seurel),
Clémence Poésy (Yvonne De Galais),
Jean-Pierre Marielle (M. de Galais),
Philippe Torreton (M. Seurel),
Émilie Dequenne (Valentine),
Malik Zidi (Franz),
Valérie Stroh (Millie),
Florence Thomassin (Mme Meaulnes),
Pascal Elso (Florentin),
Roger Dumas (L'horloger),
Pierre Vernier (Le recteur),
Charles Hurez (Delouche),
Clément Naslin (Dutremblay),
Samuel Brafman-Moutier (Roy),
Emy Beische (La petite fille),
Bastien Clerin (L'enfant de choeur),
Tristan Clerin (Un élève),
Olivier Jacquet (Sergent recruteur),
Johan Libéreau (Mougeboeuf)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Color
Runtime: 97 min
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