Well past his prime, there is no slowing down for Jacques Rivette (La Belle Noiseuse, Celine and Julie Go Boating). A filmmaker from La Nouvelle Vague has found suitor for his latest – a Berlin 2007 film festival entry will most likely find itself on the 08’ slate for subtitle-friendly indie distributor. THR reports that IFC Films have picked up the period/costume film that is known as Ne touchez pas la hache (which translates as “don’t touch the hip”) but receives an English translation of The Duchess of Langeais.
Based on Honore de Balzac's novella, this tells the story of Antoinette, the Duchess of Langeais, is a married coquette who frequents the most extravagant balls of 1820s Restoration Paris, where hypocrisy and vanity reign. The alluring Antoinette orchestrates a calculating game of seduction with handsome young general Armand de Montriveau. His passion frustratingly unfulfilled, Montriveau seeks his revenge . . .
The pic stars Guillaume Depardieu and Jeanne Balibar (from Rivette's excellent Va Savoir).
