The wife of a paralyzed aristocrat who has returned from the First World War falls in love with the gamekeeper of their large estate. When rumors start to swirl, Lady Chatterley must make a decision that will change her life.
Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre stood out favorably in 2019 thanks to The Mustang, his first feature film. This time bringing to the screen an adaptation of the famous novel by D. H. Lawrence, written by the American screenwriter David McGee (Life of Pi, Mary Poppins Returns), the French filmmaker completely changes universe, but nevertheless retains this very embodied, very sensual approach to filming living beings.
To give a distinctive sign to this story, which has already been told a thousand times, the director first relies on a more modern approach in the depiction of feelings, but also, above all, on the chemistry between the two main performers. For this story of an adulterous affair to work with the division of social classes in Edwardian society, it was imperative to have a credible film couple on screen. On this level, Emma Corrin, best known until now thanks to her incarnation of Princess Diana in the series The Crown (you can also see it in My Policeman), and Jack O’Connell (Seberg) modulate with great accuracy the inner torments of their character.
Very neat in all its aspects, Lady Chatterley’s Lover also benefits from the presence of Matthew Duckett, a still little-known actor who, here, slips into the thankless role of the handicapped aristocrat husband. The latter also suggests himself to his wife to take a lover – of his rank, of course – in order to give him an heir. The fact is that this story, deemed “obscene” when it was published in 1928, still works, almost a century later.
Launched at the Telluride Festival, Lady Chatterley’s Lover (Lady Chatterley’s Lover in French version) is offered exclusively on Netflix.
Drama
Lady Chatterley’s Lover (VF: Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Laura of Clermont-Tonnerre
Starring Emma Corrin, Jack O’Connell, Matthew Duckett
2:06 a.m.