Directed by Xavier Giannoli
Starring Benjamin Voisin, Cécile de France, Xavier Dolan, Jeanne Balibar, Vincent Lacoste, Salomé Dewaels, André Marcon and Gérard Depardieu

“Everything’s rotten, everywhere. We’ll fight for beauty.”

This stirring sentence spoken by a main character in Illusions Perdues is one of several stunning lines of dialogue scripted throughout the film and suitably summaries the rise and fall story of its central protagonist; twenty-year-old Lucien, a handsome and aspiring poet.

Based on Honoré de Balzac’s classic novel and winner of seven César Awards including Best Film, Lost Illusions begins in Angoulême, France in 1821. With his writing potential and self-confidence both on the rise, Lucien (Benjamin Voisin) leaves his family printing house in his native province with Louise (Cécile de France), an older married woman he’s fallen in love with, and moves to Paris in search of a publisher. Proving to be a more difficult mission than he expected, Lucien instead opts for the ease of journalism and settles for a job at a newspaper publishing house. There, he is shown the ropes and given invaluable insider intel by Etienne (Vincent Lacoste). Lucien is undoubtedly talented, yet undeniably naive and is therefore unaware he has stepped foot inside a high-society club that might welcome him with a smile, but not with open arms. His ambition and writing accomplishments are overshadowed by his poorer beginnings and scandalous relationship by high society’s most powerful and influential figure, Marquise d’Espard (Jeanne Balibar), who conspires with others to trigger Lucien’s downfall and also happens to be the cousin of Louise.

Battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud. 

The literal translation of this French saying is “Strike the iron while it is hot”. When a blacksmith is forging an iron, the metal must be red-hot in order for its shape to be formed, meaning one must take advantage of favourable situations, which is exactly what Lucien does in Illusions Perdues. By doing so, we are whisked away into a dog-eat-dog world where opportunity and reverence arise from one’s personal status, their social circle and how skilfully and quickly the art of blackmail is mastered. The deeper into this world journalists make it, the broader the relationships become; wielding devastating influence over any entity in need of or that could positively benefit from front-page press. Journalistic integrity is non-existent. Pessimistic, perhaps. Fascinating, bloody oath!

The comprehensively detailed narrative might make Lost Illusions two-and-a-half-hour duration be felt, yet it is always the most compelling historical lesson courtesy of its creatively-inspired screenplay, incomparably excellent writing and hugely engaging acting performances from a very well-casted ensemble of actors. A magnifique movie indeed.

Lost Illusions is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from June 23rd.

Moviedoc thanks Palace Films and The Backlot Studios for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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