Lost Illusions * * * *

I really liked this adaptation of de Balzac's novel, "Illusions Perdues".  Not that I've read it or even knew anything about it beforehand. 

Though I don't think my predictable ignorance of the original source  matters much: As a film Lost Illusions is great fun.

Set in Paris in the 19th Century, it's about a handsome young poet Lucien, who lives in the provinces working as a printer. A local baroness is seduced (in every way) by his words.  She takes him to Paris where he is introduced to "Society". Things don't work out very well.  They can smell the Proletariat on the boy. Soon he is alone and destitute.

Lucien thanks me for this review
- and he didn't even have to pay!

Working as a waiter in a cheap restaurant, Lucien meets a journalist, Lousteau ,who dines there regularly.  Lucien pleads with him to introduce him to publishers so that he might get his poems published. The journalist does so, but the publisher has no interest in Lucien's work. 

Lousteau then suggests another career for Lucien - perhaps he might like try his hand at journalism?  Lucien does not want to compromise his writing, but desperate for money, Lucien agrees and is appointed to write "reviews" of the latest plays.

He takes to it like a fish to water. He writes with more fluidity, insightfulness and comic appeal than this blog - so you can only imagine how good he is!  However, I can honestly say, hand on heart, I don't take cash for comment.  Lucien does. Heaps of it!  In fact that's how all the "Journalists "operate on everything they write.  The review goes to the highest bidder. Theatre promoters pay to have their own production praised and pay to have the competitors production slammed.

We are also introduced to Singali, a man who makes huge dollars by bringing along a trained crowd to every production to scream their joy or boo their condemnation.  Like the journalists, Singali and his "rent-a-crowd" couldn't give a hoot about the quality, or otherwise of the production. It's all about who pays the most. 

Lucien falls in love, of course! She is a street actress from poorer background than himself.  She wants to get her into proper theatre and Lucien uses all his powers of persuasion to help her.

He also meets a devastatingly handsome young novelist Nathan, with whom he has a tense relationship of both mutual admiration and contempt. 

Unforgivably amoral and corrupt, the whole situation is both hilarious and tragic. Though one cannot help but stop and think.... "Hey isn't this somewhat like the way media networks work today?" - and then it's not so funny.

As for Lucien we watch his Faustian tragedy and destiny unfold, as is always the case with someone who has sold his soul.

Big, brassy, colourful, informative, and thoroughly entertaining.  Highly recommended.

Needless to say, with all that Frenchiness,  The French Film Festival 22 is where I saw this.