| | | Wit is the ultimate weapon.
Features: DVD, English, Subtitled
Set in the court of Louis XVI in 1780's France, Ridicule (which opened the 1996 Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim) is a sharp, satirical depiction of the frivolous excesses of court life. George Ponceludon, a young photographer, leaves his provincial town in order to submit a proposal to the Versailles authorities concerning the drainage of the swamps in la Dombes. The Marquis de Bellegarde, an old doctor familiar with the ways of Louis XVI's court, befriends the young engineer, whom he feels is a man of wit. In his efforts, the solicitor of the court must be aware of the fearful results of seeming ridiculous, which can put an end to one's career--not to mention one's life.
"The acting or the story did not excite me enough to think that this clever film was anything special, except as a mildly diverting farce." Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
"Audiences will respond favorably to its overall warmth, and the motion picture academy may, too." Mike Clark, USA Today
Editor's Note
During the pre-revolutionary reign of Louis XVI, a young engineer travels to Versailles to petition the king to help him save the people of his region from a mosquito infestation. Upon his arrival, the naive country squire discovers lust in the form of a widowed countess, love in the form of his host's beautiful daughter, ultimate power in the form of wit, and the ultimate weapon in the form of ridicule. Academy Award Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film.
| Features | Subtitles: English | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Audio: French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Buena Vista |
| Release Date: 1/13/2004 |
| Running Time: 102 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1996 | | Catalog ID: 33075 | | UPC: 00786936231120 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: French | | Available Audio Tracks: French | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
British Academy Awards (1997) |  | Frederic Brillion, Winner, Best Foreign Language Film |
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| | Professional Reviews | Entertainment Weekly
"...Elegant....There's a contemporary lesson in this somewhere..." -- Rating: B 12/20/1996 p.59Chicago Sun-Times
"...What is fascinating about RIDICULE is that so much depends on language, and so little is really said..." 12/06/1996 p.34 Total Film
4 stars out of 5 -- "RIDICULE thrives on slippery language, delivered precisely....It's a tale of dirty water and dirtier wit." 03/01/2007 p.123 Sight and Sound
"A masterclass in costume drama....[A] sumptuous and sensual tale of an idealistic young aristocrat's battle of wits at the court of Louis XVI..." 03/01/2007 p.85 Sight and Sound
"RIDICULE is a spirited period romp with a justly celebrated opening....Charles Berling excels as the provincial nobleman..." 09/01/2008 p.86 San Francisco Chronicle 8 of 10
...a witty, visually splendid French costume drama... with a surgeon's precision and trenchant wit, - Edward Guthmann
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