Honore De Balzac, one of France's best writers did not enjoy a happy life. That becomes clear in this biopic mini series made for television which traces the life of this genius of literature who left a body of work that is just as admired today, as it was during the time he was actively writing. One thing that influenced him was his mother's rejection. She was a devout woman atoning for her sin of having a child with a lover while still married to Honore's father.
As we meet the writer in the story, he was having an affair with Madame De Berny, a woman older than him. This woman adored Honore, in whom she saw a talented man with so much to say about the society in which he moved. Not having any money of his own, and with his lover's charity, he tried his hand at different enterprises, without success because of his lack of business acumen.
As his novels began to appear, he met with the opposition of the powerful catholic church. Balzac's work was damned by the Pope himself, which meant most of the majority of his would be readers were doing so against what their church had decided for them. The themes in his books was society at large, the way he saw its hypocrisies and double standards. One of his staunchest supporters was Victor Hugo, a notable author, like Honore.
Most of the story has to do with Honore's relationship with his mother, a calculating woman who gave moneys to her son, she could ill afford. His involvement with Eve Hanska, a Russian aristocrat, consumed Honore with a passion he did not realize he had. That period of his life occupies most of the second part of the story. Eve, who was married to a Russian nobleman, fell madly in love with the writer first, then the man himself. Their life together was delayed until the husband's death. Eve did not want to be Honore's nurse, but that was what she ended up doing anyhow.
Josee Dayan has worked in French television throughout her career. The source material was adapted by Didier Decoin, who had the advantage of being at the right place for his research in writing the screen treatment. Balzac's life went through periods of greatness, followed by times of poverty and humiliation. He had a permanent struggle with his creditors who never left him alone. His love life went from the peaceful harmony with Madame De Berny to a passionate love affair with Eve Hanska that consumed him. Balzac had no heir, although there was a son who died during Eve's hard labor.
Gerard Depardieu dominates the action. He gives a larger than life portrayal of Honore De Balzac. It is curious that the writer's own novel "Colonel Chabert" is mentioned, Mr. Depardieu, and his co-star Fanny Ardant, starred in the film that was made of the book. Fanny Ardant was a perfect Eve Hanska, the woman who evidently, was the writer's great love. The great Jeanne Moreau shows up as Charlotte-Laure, Balzac's mother. Another famous face, Virna Lisi, her beauty more mature, but still intact, plays Madame De Berny.
Willie Stassen photographed the production using French and Czech locales, capturing the beauty of the places where the action is seen. Bruno Coulais composed the musical score.
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