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Ridicule

Play trailer Poster for Ridicule R 1996 1h 42m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Moved by the difficulties faced by peasants living in the mosquito-ridden swamplands near Lyon, aristocratic engineer Marquis Grégoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling) devises a plan to drain the boggy land. But to gain an audience with King Louis XVI (Urbain Cancelier) in Versailles, he learns he must impress the royal court with his verbal wit. Drawn into a world of ever-shifting alliances where words are used as weapons, the Marquis begins to lose sight of his noble intentions.

Critics Reviews

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Mike Clark USA Today 01/01/2000
4/4
Audiences will respond favorably to its overall warmth, and the motion picture academy may, too. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3.5/4
Imagine a time when all compliments are two-faced, when every truth is tinged with irony, when insults are the currency of humor. We have more in common with the 18th century than we might imagine. Go to Full Review Michael Dwyer Irish Times 02/19/2019
One of the sturdiest, most entertaining French films of recent years... Go to Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant 05/14/2018
Despite its elaborate costumes and wigs and its comedy-of- manners verbal games, ``Ridicule'' exhibits passion as well as style. Go to Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 12/05/2005
4/5
Beautifully dark, funny and nasty. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/04/2005
B+
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Audience Reviews

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Scuba S 12/14/2023 It's neat, has funny dialogue and scenes mired with symbolism, all while keeping the plot simple and understandable. See more Thomas M 11/25/2022 Best international movie ever made! See more william d @acsdoug 08/03/2021 I give the film makers some points for coming up with a truly original story, but I just don't think it was good enough to recommend. See more 12/19/2020 Its a bit of a backhanded complement to say this is my favorite Charles Berling movie where his annoying acting style actually fits his character and brings an uncharacteristic sympathy; Judith Godreche is lovely although the movie cover art belies her rather non-glamorous role. Fanny Ardant is note perfect as is Jean Rochfort See more 09/21/2019 Boring. Overrated. Total waste of time. See more 06/30/2016 The opening scene is unforgettable! To this day...at thought, the visual returns with great drama. See more Read all reviews
Ridicule

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Cast & Crew

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Patrice Leconte

Director

Charles Berling

Le Marquis Grégoire Ponceludon de Malavoy

Jean Rochefort

Le Marquis de Bellegarde

Fanny Ardant

Madame de Blayac

Judith Godrèche

Mathilde de Bellegarde

Bernard Giraudeau

L'Abbée de Vilecourt

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Ridicule

Ridicule (1996) Ridicule (1996) Ridicule (1996) Ridicule (1996) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Moved by the difficulties faced by peasants living in the mosquito-ridden swamplands near Lyon, aristocratic engineer Marquis Grégoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling) devises a plan to drain the boggy land. But to gain an audience with King Louis XVI (Urbain Cancelier) in Versailles, he learns he must impress the royal court with his verbal wit. Drawn into a world of ever-shifting alliances where words are used as weapons, the Marquis begins to lose sight of his noble intentions.
Director
Patrice Leconte
Producer
Frédéric Brillion, Philippe Carcassonne, Gilles Legrand
Screenwriter
Rémi Waterhouse, Michel Fessler, Eric Vicaut
Distributor
Miramax Zoë, Miramax Films, Miramax Home Entertainment [us]
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 22, 1996, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 13, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.5M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround