Ridicule (1996)

76% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(4,119 ratings)

This is a French costume drama from director Patrice Leconte that recalls both Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and Restoration (1995). Gregoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling) is a baron of the 18th century French countryside, wealthy in property and high in social position but poor in cash. Local… More This is a French costume drama from director Patrice Leconte that recalls both Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and Restoration (1995). Gregoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling) is a baron of the 18th century French countryside, wealthy in property and high in social position but poor in cash. Local peasants -- dependent upon his largesse for their income -- are in poor health, the result of a festering marsh that, if drained, could solve the villagers' illnesses and create valuable farmland. Ponceludon travels to Versailles to plead his case before King Louis XVI. There, he is informed that he has no chance of success unless he can impress the court with his verbal prowess, for the king and his minions value banter, preferably of the ironic, cruel, and insulting variety, above all else. Under the tutelage of the Marquis de Bellegarde (Jean Rochefort), Ponceludon discovers that his sober, blunt honesty can be mistaken for a skewering wit. Though the baron falls for his mentor's science-minded daughter Mathilde (Judith Godreche), he's forced to woo the politically powerful Madame de Blayac (Fanny Ardant). Ridicule (1996) opened the 1996 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Patrice Leconte
Written By: Rémi Waterhouse, Michel Fessler
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 29, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jan 13, 2004

Critic Reviews

Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Beautifully dark, funny and nasty.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bill C

The man who is to make the introduction is Monsieur de Blayac layes on his deathbed and in walks Monsieur de Montalieri who exemplifies the unchristian nature of the clergy in the French court. He reminds Blayac of an insult from many decades before and in bizarre fashion whips it out… More
The man who is to make the introduction is Monsieur de Blayac layes on his deathbed and in walks Monsieur de Montalieri who exemplifies the unchristian nature of the clergy in the French court. He reminds Blayac of an insult from many decades before and in bizarre fashion whips it out and starts peeing on him. The director zooms in for a p***is extreme close-up for some reason, and really that will be my most disturbing memorable moment of the movie. Gregoire attempts learn how to play the part of a successful Courtier, while convincing himself that it is just an act. His instructor is Marquis de Bellegarde who is an experienced courtier but lacking in the intellect to really make it. He sees in Gregoire the quick wit that he wished he had. Gregoire falls for Bellegardes daughter who is as equally as super aultruistic, but is arranged to a much elderly count who arranges to marry her for 2,000 frac allowance an Bimonthly bed visitations. Next time I’ll just dig up an old copy of Dangerous Liaisons, Glen Close at the top of her acting game.