Cousin Bette

Movie
German title	Cousin Bette
Original title	Cousin Bette
Country of production	USA , UK
original language	English
Publishing year	1998
length	104 minutes
Rod
Director	McAnuff's
script	Lynn Siefert , Susan Tarr
production	Sarah Radclyffe
music	Simon Boswell
camera	Andrzej Sekuła
cut	Tariq Anwar , Barry Alexander Brown
occupation
Jessica Lange : Bette Fischer Elisabeth Shue : Jenny Cadine Bob Hoskins : Cesar Crevel Hugh Laurie : Baron Hector Hulot Aden Young : Count Wenceslas Steinbach Kelly Macdonald : Hortense Hulot Toby Stephens : Victorin Hulot Jefferson Mays : Stidmann Geraldine Chaplin : Adeline Hulot John Benfield : Dr. Bianchon Paul Bandey : Priest Laura Fraser : Mariette Janie Hargreaves : Celestine

Cousin Bette (Alternative title: The cousin in the hot fire of jealousy ; Original title: Cousin Bette ) is an American - British comedy film from 1998 . Directed by Des McAnuff and written by Lynn Siefert and Susan Tarr based on a novel by Honoré de Balzac .

action

Adeline Hulot, the sister of the impoverished Bette Fischer, dies. Fischer tries to get closer to her brother-in-law Hector Hulot and to befriend his daughter Hortense. She does not succeed, whereupon she enters into a relationship with the 15 years younger sculptor Wenceslas Steinbach, whose life she saves after attempting suicide.

Bette buys groceries for the artist with her savings and cooks for him. She tells the curious questions asked Hortense that she has a boyfriend - but Steinbach regards her like a mother. He reveals his attitude to her and leaves her for Hortense, whom he marries. The sculptor has a child with Hortense and is supported by his father-in-law.

Fischer takes revenge, with the actress Jenny Cadine helping her. Cadine seduces Hector, whom she drives to ruin. The nobleman is paralyzed after a stroke. Then she seduces Steinbach, who is shot by his wife. Hortense is arrested. In the last scene, Fischer takes care of Hortense's child, who smiles at her. She says that the child is only hers.

Reviews

James Berardinelli wrote on ReelViews that the film was not the best introduction to the writer's work. Although it offers a “halfway interesting plot” and “competent presentations”, it works “secondary” to the other, more convincing stories about revenge, deceit and betrayal. Jessica Lange is good in her role, but not great; the representations of Hugh Laurie and Bob Hoskins are vivid. Elisabeth Shue seems boring. Overall, the film was a disappointment.

The lexicon of international films wrote that the film adaptation of the novel was “peppered with brilliant dialogues”, provided “a subtle insight into the social structures of the 19th century” and reflected “the position of women”. It is a "black comedy at a high level".

backgrounds

The film was shot in Bordeaux and in Rochefort ( Charente-Maritime department ). It was screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival in August 1998 . In the cinemas of the United States, he played about 1.16 million US dollars one. In some countries, such as Hungary , the film was released directly on video.

Web links

• Cousine Bette in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Cousin bed at rotten tomatoes (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Film review by James Berardinelli, accessed March 4, 2008
2. ^ Cousin Bette. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film Service , accessed March 4, 2008 .  
3. ↑ Filming locations for Cousin Bette, accessed March 4, 2008
4. ↑ Cousin Bette's premiere dates, accessed March 4, 2008
5. ↑ Box office results for Cousin Bette, accessed on March 4, 2008