LOST
ILLUSIONS
A
Film by Xavier Giannoli
In 1821, Lucien de
Rubempré (César winner Benjamin Voisin) arrives in Paris as a sensitive, and
idealistic young poet determined to write a reputation-making novel. Instead,
he finds himself swept into journalism, whose influence and reach is booming
with the help of the printing press, widely available of late. Under the
mentorship of cynical editor Étienne Lousteau (César winner Vincent Lacoste),
Lucien agrees to write rave theater reviews for bribes, achieving material
success at the expense of his conscience. With this sweeping adaptation of one
of Balzac's greatest novels, Xavier Giannoli crafts a contemporary tale of
corruption amidst an early form of "fake news". (2021, France/Belgium, 149min., R, In French with English subtitles |
Dir. Xavier Giannoli)