Valmont
Director: Milos Forman
Actors: Colin Firth, Annette Bening, Meg Tilly
PlotIn 18th century France, the Marquise de Merteuil devises a cunning plan to exact revenge on her former lover, Gercourt. She enlists the help of her old acquaintance, the notorious seducer Vicomte de Valmont, to carry out her scheme. The plan requires Valmont to seduce Gercourt’s soon-to-be-bride, the young and virtuous Cécile de Volanges, thereby ruining her reputation. Valmont is intrigued by the challenge but hesitates as he is preoccupied with seducing another target, Madame de Tourvel, a deeply religious and moral woman staying at his aunt’s estate. Despite initial reluctance, he finally agrees to Merteuil’s proposal but only if he succeeds in bedding Madame de Tourvel first.
As Valmont embarks on his dual conquest, a labyrinth of deceit and temptation unravels. His pursuit of Madame de Tourvel gradually becomes genuine, complicating his once clear motives and entangling his emotions. Meanwhile, Cécile falls victim to his charms through calculated manipulation. Unknown to Valmont, Merteuil has concocted her own manipulative ploys, stirring the pot of intrigue for her amusement and benefit. The fluid dynamics between desire and deception escalate, thrusting them into an intricate dance of power plays. This web of seduction becomes fraught with unexpected emotions and dangerous consequences, leaving relationships irreparably altered as hidden truths come to light. What begins as a game of allure spirals into an emotional battleground, changing everyone involved in unforeseen ways.
Writers: Choderlos de Laclos, Jean-Claude Carrière, Milos Forman
Release Date: 17 Nov 1989
Runtime: 137 min
Rating: R
Country: France, United Kingdom, United States
Language: English
Home Video Reviews
Kino Lorber's 2K release of Valmont preserves its original theatrical look, offering lush, dramatic entertainment despite some presentation flaws.
Read our review of Valmont Blu-ray to find out more