Mademoiselle Paradis is a 2018 German-language, 18th-century film about a real-life blind pianist — Maria Theresia von Paradis — who was briefly treated by doctor Franz Mesmer. His treatments, based on an invisible “energy” (his last name is the origin of the English word “mesmerize”), actually start to work, but then Paradis starts to lose her ability to play piano…
It’s an interesting film with some overall nice costumes, and it recently became available for streaming in the U.S. on Amazon. I definitely recommend it for an unusual storyline and the performance by lead actress Maria Dragus.
The costumes were designed by Veronika Albert, who has mostly done contemporary-set, German movies. This film takes place in 1776-77, and Albert does a good job with getting the era right. There’s a lot of robes à la française (sack-back gowns), a few gowns that are more anglaise in style, and she uses mostly appropriate fabrics with a few too many obviously machine-embroidered elements, but that seems par for the course these days.
Any thoughts on Mademoiselle Paradis?
Oooh, I just saw the lead actress in a German tv production of “A Dangerous Fortune” written by Ken Follett. She was grand in it- her resting bitch face is epic. I’ll check this one out
Gotta watch
Why is it you like the missing stays in that one outfit? I’m more familiar with corset-less complaints here.
Oh, because she was specifically asked by Mesmer to dress simply, so it made sense within the plot. Sorry, I didn’t explain that well!
Oh I am so honoured to see mentioning a film from my own country (Austria) here on my new favourite Website. I saw the film almost a year ago at a small cinema in Vienna and was fascinated by the main actress and her ability to play the blindness that well. It was really a good entertaining and I loved the Feeling for the era with the set and the costumes <3
I saw this film and think that for a German language film the costumes are quiet good (there is many bad stuff in Television for a decade). Most importantly no stupid looking aristocrats. What I didn’t like is that many suits don’t fit the actors, which should be from the high Society and would not wear second hand clothing. What I really dislike are all those completely wrong waistcoats like these on Monsieur Paradis. Should they be long or shout they be short? I have the Impression that the designer didn’t know. The length would be OK, if there would be some laps.
If I remember it right some working class clothes were just completely wrong.
Although the costumes are not really good, the film is good because most actors did remarkably well.
I wonder that you didn’t mentioned the 2 parts TV-film “Maria Theresia” which had run on arte. Many stuff to discuss about. Although I think that there is much wrong there, at last the actresses are wearing corsets and Marie-Luise Stockinger did a good Job – although she is maybe looking too beautiful for the historical queen.