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Plot

Acclaimed theater director Des McAnuff made his feature-film directorial debut with this period comedy-drama adapted from Honore de Balzac's novel La Cousine Bette (1846) about a jealous and bitter spinster who attempts to destroy the romance between her niece and a Polish sculptor. In Paris of the 1840s, spinster Bette Fisher (Jessica Lange) steps in to "take care" of her relatives after a decline in the Hulot family fortunes, mainly due to wastrel Hector Hulot (Hugh Laurie). After penniless sculptor Wenceslas Steinbach (Aden Young) marries Hector's daughter, Hortense (Kelly Macdonald), Bette schemes and plots, drawing Hector's mistress, music-hall star Jenny Cadine (Elisabeth Shue), into her web by arranging for wealthy Cesar Crevel (Bob Hoskins) to become Jenny's benefactor. Filmed at locations in and around Bordeaux. Shown at the 1998 Seattle Film Festival.
MPAA Rating:
R for sexuality.
Genre(s):
Comedy
Run Time:
115min.
Theatrical Release Date:
06/12/1998
DVD Release Date:
12/22/1998
Distributor(s):
Paramount
Director(s):
Des McAnuff
Starring:
Jessica Lange , Elisabeth Shue , Bob Hoskins , Hugh Laurie , Kelly MacDonald
Themes:
Class Differences,Social Climbing
Tone:
Angry,Biting,Racy,Stylish,Elegant
Keywords:
bitterness,dysfunctional,frustration,jealousy,loneliness,love,niece,romance,sculpture,spinster
Country of Origin:
USA (06-12-1998)
Language:
English