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''Angélique'' is a 2013 French
period drama A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents history, historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction s ...
and
adventure film The adventure film is a broad genre of film. Some early genre studies found it no different than the Western film or argued that adventure could encompass all Hollywood genres. Commonality was found among historians Brian Taves and Ian Cameron in ...
loosely based on the 1956 novel '' Angélique, the Marquise of the Angels'' by Anne Golon.


Plot

In 17th-century France during the reign of King
Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...
, Angélique de Sancé de Monteloup, a young woman from an impoverished noble family, is compelled into an arranged marriage with the wealthy but enigmatic Count Joffrey de Peyrac. Peyrac, older than Angélique, possesses a scarred face and a limp, and is widely rumored to be involved in
alchemy Alchemy (from the Arabic word , ) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practised in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, alchemy is first ...
and heretical practices. Initially repulsed by her unconventional husband, Angélique gradually comes to appreciate and ultimately fall deeply in love with Joffrey. She discovers his profound intelligence, kindness, and talent as a scientist and musician. Their marriage blossoms as they build a life together at his estate in Toulouse, and Angélique bears him a child. However, Joffrey's immense wealth, independent spirit, and unorthodox scientific pursuits attract the suspicion and envy of powerful figures, including the ambitious Archbishop of Toulouse and the young King Louis XIV, who views Joffrey's influence as a potential threat to his burgeoning absolute monarchy. These forces conspire against Joffrey, leading to his false accusation of sorcery and treason. Joffrey is subsequently arrested and imprisoned, facing a trial orchestrated to ensure his condemnation and execution. Despite facing immense social and political pressure, Angélique bravely navigates the treacherous royal court in Paris in a desperate attempt to clear her husband's name. She endures threats, attempts on her life, and social degradation in her efforts to expose the conspiracy against him. Despite Angélique's valiant endeavors, Joffrey is ultimately condemned and publicly executed. Devastated by grief and consumed by a thirst for revenge, Angélique finds herself cast out and forced to survive in the perilous Parisian underworld. Here, she reunites with Nicolas, a childhood friend who has become a prominent figure among the city's beggars and brigands. Angélique adapts to this harsh new reality, using her wit and beauty to navigate the dangers and indignities of her circumstances. This period of survival transforms her, forging a resilient and resourceful woman determined to regain her standing and exact vengeance upon those who destroyed her life and Joffrey's.


Cast


Release

''Angélique'' was released in France and Belgium on 18 December 2013, in Hungary on 17 April 2014 and Germany on 12 June 2014.


Production


Development

The meeting between the novelist Anne Golon, author of the ''Angélique'' series '','' and the director
Ariel Zeitoun Ariel Zeitoun (born 26 September 1949) is a French director, producer, and screenwriter. Zeitoun started as a producer in 1979 with '. Later, he wrote the script for and directed '' Souvenirs, souvenirs''. In 2013 Zeitoun directed the historic ...
took place ten years before filming, as Zeitoun had promised to make promised to make a remake of the
Bernard Borderie Bernard Borderie (10 June 1924 in Paris – 28 May 1978 in Paris) was a French film director and screenwriter. His father, Raymond Borderie, was one of the producers of ''Children of Paradise, Les Enfants du Paradis'' (''Children of Paradise'', 194 ...
's 1964 film Angélique, marquise des anges. "My attachment to this character comes from the fact that I wanted to tell a heartbreaking love story." The film was produced by Ajoz Films, in collaboration with the Belgian company Climax Films. This new film adaptation, in the director's view, diverges significantly from the original film. He asserts it is more faithful to the books, which he describes as "much more rock'n'roll, more violent, more political and more modern."


Assignment of roles

Nora Arnezeder was chosen for the main role, famously played by
Michèle Mercier Michèle Mercier (born 1 January 1939 as Jocelyne Yvonne Renée Mercier) is a French actress.
in the 1964 film. This casting decision was revealed by ''Écran Total'' in July 2012.
Gérard Lanvin Gérard Lanvin (; born 21 June 1950) is a César Award-winning French actor. He quit his studies when he was 17 to become an actor. He took on a role in ''Vous n'aurez pas l'Alsace et la Lorraine'' in 1977 on an offer from the actor Coluche. He ...
was cast as Joffrey de Peyrac, the character portrayed by
Robert Hossein Robert Hossein (30 December 1927 – 31 December 2020) was a French film actor, director, and writer. He directed Les Misérables (1982 film), the 1982 adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and appeared in ''Vice and Virtue'', ''Le Casse'', ''Les U ...
in the earlier adaptation; Lanvin immediately accepted after reading the well-constructed script. The role of the lawyer, previously played by
Jean Rochefort Jean Raoul Robert Rochefort (; 29 April 1930 – 9 October 2017) was a French actor. He received many accolades during his career, including an Honorary César in 1999. Life and career Rochefort was born on 29 April 1930 in Paris, France, to ...
, was given to
Simon Abkarian Simon Abkarian (Armenian: Սիմոն Աբգարյան, born 5 March 1962) is a French-Armenian actor. Life and career Born in Gonesse, Val d'Oise, of Armenian descent, Abkarian spent his childhood in Lebanon. He moved to Los Angeles, where he ...
. Additionally, the character of Plessis-Bellières, formerly depicted by Claude Giraud, was entrusted to Tomer Sisley.


Filming

Production for the 2013 ''Angélique'' film began on September 17, 2012, and concluded on November 25, 2012. Although initially planned for the Cité du Cinéma in Saint-Denis, filming ultimately took place at
Barrandov Studios Barrandov Studios is a set of film studios in Prague, Czech Republic. It is the largest film studio in the country and one of the largest in Europe. Barrandov has made several major Hollywood productions, including ''Mission: Impossible (film), ...
in
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
,
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
, and in
Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
. This change was reportedly a decision by
Luc Besson Luc Paul Maurice Besson (; born 18 March 1959) is a French filmmaker. He directed and produced the films '' Subway'' (1985), '' The Big Blue'' (1988), and '' La Femme Nikita'' (1990). Associated with the '' Cinéma du look'' film movement, he h ...
due to budget considerations. In November 2012, the film crew also shot in the province of Hainaut,
Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
, using the castles of Attre and Belœil for interior scenes. Exterior shots were filmed at
Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...
.


References


External links

*
Reviews of ''Angélique'' by film critics from different countriesOfficial website of ''Angélique'' in FrenchOfficial website of ''Angélique'' in English
{{DEFAULTSORT:Angelique (2013 film) 2010s historical adventure films French historical adventure films Films based on French novels Films based on adaptations Films set in the 1650s Films set in the 1660s Remakes of French films Films shot in Austria Films shot in Belgium Films shot in the Czech Republic Films scored by Nathaniel Méchaly Films directed by Ariel Zeitoun French historical action films 2010s historical action films 2010s French-language films 2010s French films