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"So many authors are denied the gratification of a concrete response to their work. I am blessed."
Imprisoned for many years for his pornographic and masochistic writings, the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush) eventually found himself in the insane asylum Chareton which was run by a benevolent priest, the Abbé du Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix). He continued writing his tomes in his well-appointed cell and his manuscripts were secreted out to his publisher by the young and beautiful laundress Madeleine LeClerq (Kate Winslet).
When the emperor Napoleon (Ron Cook) discovers that de Sade's work continues to sell, he dispatches Dr. Royer-Collard (Michael Caine) to assess the situation and put and end to the writings. While the Abbé refuses to allow Royer-Collard to employ barbaric torture to "tame" de Sade, de Sade is gradually deprived of his quills, ink and paper and then the opulent decor of his cell and finally left naked in his barren cell. But he continues to find ways to write and tell his stories.
Also in the cast are Amelia Warner as Simone, the convent-raised orphan who becomes Royer-Collard's child bride; Stephen Moyer as Prioux, a young architect sent by Napoleon to renovate the Royer-Collard chateau at Chareton; Billie Whitelaw as Madeleine's mother who was blinded by the lye used to wash the asylum's linens; Jane Menelaus as de Sade's long-suffering wife Renee Pelagie; Stephen Marcus as the violent inmate Bouchon; and Elizabeth Berrington as the chambermaid Charlotte who betrays Madeleine.
While factually inaccurate, de Sade did spend many years imprisoned and at the insane asylum of Chareton. Liberties were taken regarding many incidents in de Sade's life. This is a profound film with graphic violence and sexuality. Some may find it extremely vulgar.
Directed by Philip Kaufman.
Run time: 2 hours, 4 minutes
Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, violence and language.
My personal rating: B+
Imprisoned for many years for his pornographic and masochistic writings, the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush) eventually found himself in the insane asylum Chareton which was run by a benevolent priest, the Abbé du Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix). He continued writing his tomes in his well-appointed cell and his manuscripts were secreted out to his publisher by the young and beautiful laundress Madeleine LeClerq (Kate Winslet).
When the emperor Napoleon (Ron Cook) discovers that de Sade's work continues to sell, he dispatches Dr. Royer-Collard (Michael Caine) to assess the situation and put and end to the writings. While the Abbé refuses to allow Royer-Collard to employ barbaric torture to "tame" de Sade, de Sade is gradually deprived of his quills, ink and paper and then the opulent decor of his cell and finally left naked in his barren cell. But he continues to find ways to write and tell his stories.
Also in the cast are Amelia Warner as Simone, the convent-raised orphan who becomes Royer-Collard's child bride; Stephen Moyer as Prioux, a young architect sent by Napoleon to renovate the Royer-Collard chateau at Chareton; Billie Whitelaw as Madeleine's mother who was blinded by the lye used to wash the asylum's linens; Jane Menelaus as de Sade's long-suffering wife Renee Pelagie; Stephen Marcus as the violent inmate Bouchon; and Elizabeth Berrington as the chambermaid Charlotte who betrays Madeleine.
While factually inaccurate, de Sade did spend many years imprisoned and at the insane asylum of Chareton. Liberties were taken regarding many incidents in de Sade's life. This is a profound film with graphic violence and sexuality. Some may find it extremely vulgar.
Directed by Philip Kaufman.
Run time: 2 hours, 4 minutes
Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, violence and language.
My personal rating: B+
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