The Last Mistress

Let's talk French literature! Back in the late 1700's, there was a writer by the name of Choderlos de Laclos. He wrote a masterpiece, an epistolary novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, that captured the imagination of the public. In the book, a wicked couple, experienced in and bored by love, seeks excitement by undermining naive young people, who are susceptible to their wiles.

The reader may recall Cruel Intentions, in which Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Philippe reprised the roles described above. In Cruel Intentions Two, normally sweet Amy Adams plays the evil manipulator. For some strange reason, viewers love the story of the seasoned roues (that should have an accent aigu on it) who prey on the initiates in love.

The 2007 French film, La Vieille Maitresse, works the same material again. This time, however, we are actually back in the early 1800's, where in France, as in England, class issues were dominant in everyone's mind. The story involves a rather debauched, calloused young man of the upper crust who seeks the hand of a very pure Aristocratic maiden in marriage. The question is: Will he be able to give up his prostitute-lover of some ten years?

Now add to the mix the beautiful Asia Argento who, with a strong Spanish accent, speaks French, and portrays an exquisitely shaded character, the "vieille maitresse." Think of Bizet's Carmen to picture this femme fatale, this angel/devil who is both mysterious and toxic in her control over the young man.

The film is a little jewel. If you don't mind subtitles and wish to travel in time to a bygone era in a foreign land, where honor and social status counted for everything, view this French flick.

Bon voyage!