LE BOSSU
France, 1998, 115 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Auteuil, Fabrice Lucchini, Marie Gillain, Vincent Perez, Philippe Noiret.
Directed by Philippe de Broca.
Le Bossu is an interesting and entertaining swashbuckling adventure. It was made by Philippe de Brocca who made a number of action adventures and comedies, especially in the 60s and 70s with Jean- Paul Belmondo. This time he has a very strong French cast starting with Daniel Auteuil as a budding swordsman who is involved in many a fight, clashes with the Duke of Nevers, but joins him in an attempt to rescue his little daughter. When the duke is murdered by his cousin, the Count Gonzague (Fabris Luchini in an excellently villainous role), the swordsman escapes with the little girl and joins a travelling circus. The daughter herself becomes an expert at the sword. The rest of the film is the final confrontation between the swordsman, the daughter and Gonzague who is now ruling in France. The swordsman disguises himself as a hunchback adviser, finally revealing himself and the truth.
The film is very well acted and also has cameos by Vincent Perez as the Duke of Nevers and Philippe Noiret as King Philippe.
1. A popular French story? The 19th century tradition? The film versions and tradition? Action, swashbuckling? The light tones? The serious themes?
2. Philippe de Broca and his career of decades, making action classics, comedies?
3. The re-creation of the period, sets, décor, costumes? 1699 and the 17th century? The musical score?
4. The title, chivalry, duels, weapons? The scenes of the fencing school?
5. Daniel Auteuil as Lagadere? His embodying the spirit of the 17th and 18th centuries? His sword skills and seeing them exercises? His admiration for the Duke of Nevers? The encounters with him, the fencing practice? At the court of Philippe de Orleans? His place at the court, his style, personality, loyal and at the service of his rulers?
6. The Duke of Nevers, as a person, personality? His skill with his particular ‘thrust’? With Gonzague, the guards? His rank, taking Lagadere? The journey, the ambush and his death? The revelation of his relationship with Blanche? Her pregnancy?
7. Gonzague as villain, sinister personality, his dealings with people, intrigue, with Nevers? At the court, his financial skills, ambitions? His using Peyroees? The plan for the ambush and its execution?
8. The aftermath of the duke’s death? His approaching Blanche, her silence, his abducting her? Lagadere taking the baby? His motivation for anger and revenge? Their joining the players and the lifestyle of the travelling group?
9. The passing of the years, life with the players? Aurore and seeing Lagadere as her father? The attack, seeing the thrust? The revelation of the truth? Lagadere and his return to society? The molestation, his using the thrust? Gonzague knowing the truth?
10. Gonzague, his banking skills, his holding Blanche and her being a recluse? His ambitions? Wanting to destroy Lagadere?
11. Lagadere and his disguise, becoming the hunchback, insinuating himself into Gonzague’s good graces, Gonzague depending on him for advice? The overall plan, his love for Aurore?
12. Aurore, her being deported, Lagadere freeing her? His exposure of Gonzague?
13. The drama and the tensions about identities, the unmasking, the final fight, Blanche, Aurore, the castle? The emphasis on the swashbuckling climax?
14. A glimpse of French history, the entertainment mode, the mythic style, the confrontation between good and evil?
