La Belle Personne (The Beautiful Person) (2008)

57% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(1,597 ratings)

In the wake of screen adaptations by such acclaimed filmmakers as Andrzej Zulawski and Manoel de Oliveira, director Christophe Honoré updates Madame de Lafayette's novel La Princesse de Clèves while placing the story in a contemporary setting. Junie (Léa Seydoux) is new in Paris, and there… More In the wake of screen adaptations by such acclaimed filmmakers as Andrzej Zulawski and Manoel de Oliveira, director Christophe Honoré updates Madame de Lafayette's novel La Princesse de Clèves while placing the story in a contemporary setting. Junie (Léa Seydoux) is new in Paris, and there isn't a man in the city that hasn't noticed. Chief among her admirers are teacher Nemours (Louis Garrel) and gauche fellow student Otto (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet). As passions flare, it becomes readily apparent that Nemours maintains a rather liberal approach to student-teacher relationships. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Directed By: Christophe Honoré
Written By: Gilles Taurand, Christophe Honoré
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 10, 2008 Wide
On DVD: May 17, 2011
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

A.O. Scott, New York Times
The comic swerves and dramatic twists feel at once dutiful and arbitrary, and supposedly intense emotions are explored with the arch, weary detachment of a school assignment.
Beverly Berning, culturevulture.net
Mr. Honoré rejuvenates the age-old love triangle story on the surface, but underneath, it's still the same heavy-handed morality at play.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
...reminiscent of Abdel Kechiche's "L'esquive" ("Games of Love and Chance"), yet while that film felt modern, urban and gritty, this one is more steeped in urban moodiness and doomed romance...
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
ginetai plano to plano olo kai pio kraygaleo oti o anthropos den kserei apo poy na paei kai pos na se parei mazi toy, gia na ftasete s' ena finale arhaioellinika tragiko kai sparaksikardio oste na soy meinei
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
Has a superb soundtrack, beautiful cinematography and a lively and charming cast, but, ultimately, suffers from an overstuffed, unfocused plot with poorly developed characters and fails to keep you thoroughly engrossed or captivated.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

In "The Beautiful Person," Junie's(Lea Seydoux) mother has just died, causing her to move in with her cousin Matthias(Estaban Carvajal-Alegria). She also changes schools as part of the process. Even before all of the introductions have been made, Otto(Gregoire… More
In "The Beautiful Person," Junie's(Lea Seydoux) mother has just died, causing her to move in with her cousin Matthias(Estaban Carvajal-Alegria). She also changes schools as part of the process. Even before all of the introductions have been made, Otto(Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet) declares his love to her. She instantly returns his feelings and then ignores him, not being able to make up her mind with everything happening so quickly. If you think that's a lot to handle, then there is Nemours(Louis Garrel), their Italian teacher, who is worried about news about his relationship to Florence(Valerie Lang), another teacher, from getting out. "The Beautiful Person" definitely has a few things in its favor in its understated study of relationships and dating, and how the two should never meet. Like, I've said before, friends are great; cliques are not, as they do not give anybody any room to breathe or to find themselves, which Junie is desperately trying to do. To help this, the movie has a claustrophobic feel that extends beyond the borders of the school where the students have no privacy. And if only Christophe Honore, once a promising director, was maturing like we hope these characters one day will, then we might have truly had something here. In reality, he does little to develop this loosely structured story or his own voice to deliver anything distinctive again. And yes, there is singing.

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La Belle Personne (The Beautiful Person) (2008)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

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