Children of the Century
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Children of the Century (Les Enfants du Siècle) is a 1999 French film based on the true tale of the tumultuous love affair between two French literary icons of the 19th Century, novelist George Sand (Juliette Binoche) and poet Alfred de Musset (Benoît Magimel).
Plot summary
The story begins as George Sand quits her marital home and arrives in Paris with her two children. Meanwhile the young poet and dandy Alfred de Musset is busy making a name for himself both as a womaniser and a talented poet and critic. Sand and Musset first meet at a literary dinner and quickly recognise in each other a like minded love of literature. At first their relationship remain platonic, but soon the pair embark on a tumultuous affair that will lead them to Venice and the creation of their finest works of literature.
Background & production
The film was shot on location in Paris, Nohant and Venice from August to December 1998. In an interview with The Irish Times entitled Playing with Sand Diane Kurys revealed that she was shooting in the actual rooms Sand and Musset had occupied in the Hotel Danieli, while Juliette Binoche revealed that Sand's estate had loaned the production some of her possessions including a saphire ring and jewel incrusted dagger. When asked what her inspiration for the film was Kury's mentions that Musset's account of the affair in his book La Confession d'un Enfant du Siècle was her starting point. Binoche said that her attraction to the part was due to "Sand's combination strengths and weaknesses".
See also
