Torn between two

by RICHARD JONES

FILMS which recreate a sumptuous bygone era and tell the story of romantic entanglements have an attraction all of their own.

French writer-director Catherine Breillat's An Old Mistress is set in Paris, 1835.

Ryno de Marigny (Fu'ad Ait Aattou) is torn between his sense of duty to his intended aristocratic bride Hermangarde (Roxanne Mesquida) and the charms of his longtime mistress Vellini (Asia Argento).

Scandal and the gossip which emanated from these salacious revelations were the stuff of life before instant electronic communications took their place in everyday affairs.

So when Ryno tells his fiancee's grandmother (Claude Sarraute) about his long-standing affair... well, the cat's well and truly out of the bag.

Meantime Vellini is convinced no mere marriage can snap the bond she and Ryno have forged over a decade while Hermangarde, though pious, is no fool.

Furthermore, Hermangarde is able to call on the wise counselling of her very worldly grandmother as she battles with "The Spaniard" Vellini for Ryno's affections.

12 December 2007

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