The Libertine (2000) is a French comedy movie about Denis Diderot, 18th-century writer of THE “Encyclopédie,” which was a major publication of the Enlightenment. This film — which stars Vincent Perez as Diderot and Fanny Ardant as a painter — touches on these ideas, but mostly recasts Diderot as the ultimate Casanova and philosophy as rebellious fun. I’m still on my 18th-Century Quest — to watch as many 18th century-set films as possible — so I figured it was time to start this one up.
The film was made in 2000 and so reads a bit dated, particularly in its portrayal of different ethnicities — as that ties in to costumes, more on that below. It also felt dated to me in its portrayal of Diderot as a sex-crazed intellectual who basically wants to bone everyone, but maybe that’s because the older I get, the less I am charmed by f*ckboys.
But, if you want to see Vincent Perez do full-front nudity, this is your film! He’s very relaxed, if you know what I mean, so I’m not sure if it’s the world’s most exciting thing.
There’s also a WHOLE LOT of pig and shockingly little mud!
The film takes place over only a couple of days, so it does that annoying thing where everyone wears the same outfit for the entire thing. The costumes were designed by Olivier Bériot (The King Is Dancing, Fanfan, Bandidas, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, and the upcoming Franklin). Things seem to be set in the 1780s, maybe — it’s all 18th-century light and the hair seems to switch eras depending on the character.
Fanny Ardant is a Prussian painter who has arrived to paint Diderot. She wears a riding habit in a peach stripe with lots of silver trim, plus a burnt-orange waistcoat:
Riding habits were super popular across the 18th century and particularly in the 1780s:
But the metallic lace seems much earlier and reminds me of this 1730s jacket:
Vincent Perez is Diderot, philosopher, writer, and art critic, who here is running an underground printworks for his Encyclopedia (which has been outlawed) and shagging ALL the ladies — and trying to shag Ardant’s character.
He spends about 2 minutes in a wig:
He wears a blue linen (?) jacket with a little bit of gold trim and darker blue breeches, plus all the scraggly hair you could ever want:
Other characters include:
The film uses several Orientalist themes, and not in very thoughtful way. First, the chateau at which this whole party takes place has a bathhouse that is literally staffed by people of color who are there to massage and provide sexual favors to the owners and their guests. It’s all played as “ooo fun and erotic and exotic!”
Then there’s an Orientalist party at the end of the film, which at least references a real trend of the era, even if some elements of the costumes are extra fantastical:
I can’t give the film any kind of recommendation, given the blatant racism and my lack of enthusiasm for people who think with their junk, but the costuming is decent, if unvaried (except for that end party).
Have you seen The Libertine? What did you think?
As you say orientalism was an 18th c. fad. Interestingly China had a parallel Occidentalist fad. Their are pictures of Imperial concubines all got up in 18th c. Western garb. The bathhouse however sounds like a step too far.
The Lucille Ball gif if my immediate go-to when something needs an ‘Ew’ reaction!
I don’t think they did any favors to the actor by taking him out of that wig. The wig, if somewhat dated for the movie, was much better than that scraggly hair!
I don’t wanna be negative but… yuk.
I don’t like much. I dunno what it is. The color combinations? That Orange riding habit looks like it has blue dyed cotton lace on it. I hope that’s just my monitor’s fault. And I hate the waistcoat underneath.
I know I’m nuts but the one outfit I really kinda like is the weird stiff red dress covered in gold embroidery and trim that the lady of the house sings in. It’s definitely referencing baroque theatrical costume. Yes, that too is weird…
And the floozy with the long waist… isn’t there a time… 1760s? …where the waist of pannier gowns was dropped a bit, the bodice curves out a smidgen like the shape of the corset. But her’s does look like it’s dropped like 3”.
I wanna see all the wife’s striped gown. It looks good!
I’d like Dederot’s blue on blue outfit more if he’s button up his waistcoat and shirt.
OK, I’ll shut up now. Peace! Out!
I watched the movie some years ago. I just don’t like Fanny Ardant and think that they surely would have find a more plausible actress (maybe German) for the role. I never had the impression that Mme. Therbusch ever was very sexy or a target of libertines… It’s somehow hilarious to see Diderot with nice long hair if you have him in mind with his short hair from Therbusch’s original portray.
I did like some scenes of the movie and Perez is the perfect libertine although I doubt the image of Diderot here.
I haven’t seen this film…yet…but is the racism blatant or just correct for the period? Should I be prepared for factual history or modern racism?
You decide: the BIPOC characters only exist in the bathhouse and are there to provide sexual favors to the white characters, and it’s played as though it’s fun.
Not impossible in period if unlikely but definitely should be portrayed as seriously squicky because it IS!
I didn’t know this movie existed until now. I saw The Libertine starring Johnny Depp in the theaters way back when. Vincent Perez looks ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS here, as usual! That’s really all I have to say!!