Pierre Niney in a beautiful and modern adaptation that revives the myth

Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte have signed an innovative adaptation of “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas.

For their third joint achievement, Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte (First name) have chosen to tackle a classic of classics, by signing the 24th adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo for the cinema since 1908.

At first glance, one might think: nothing new under the sun. Returning to such a text smacks of reheated material and a crisis in the scripts. However, the complete opposite is happening with this epic film, on screens Friday, June 28, which highlights the psychological dimension of the characters and Edmond Dantès first and foremost.

The first impression of this new version, screened for the first time out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival, with Pierre Niney in the title role, Anaïs Demoustier (Mercedes) and Laurent Lafitte (Gérard de Villefort), is that of a rejuvenation of the characters, a bit like Stephen Frears had refreshed Dangerous relationshipsaccording to Choderlos de Laclos in 1988. Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte breathe new life into this tale of revenge, the most famous novel by Dumas after The three Musketeers.

In 1815, at the start of the reign of Louis XVIII, the young Edmond Dantès was the target of a plot and was arrested on his wedding day for a crime of which he was innocent. Imprisoned at the Château d’If, in the harbor of Marseille, he managed to escape after fourteen years in prison. Legatee of a fabulous treasure, he returns to Paris under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, while taking other identities, to take revenge on the traitors who ruined his youth.

The latest adaptation of the Count of Monte Cristo was American: Monte Cristo’s Revenge directed by Kevin Reynolds in 2002. The French version (co-produced with Italy), which is a reference, dates back to 1954, and was directed by the forgotten Robert Vernay, but Jean Marais in the role of Edmond Dantès brought panache to it. incomparable. Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte manage to give new freshness to a hero who has become a myth.

On screen, Pierre Niney brings new youth to the character, but also more torment. Like the directors, also adapters of the novel, he appropriated the role with which one would not have spontaneously identified him. Very convincing, he has Anaïs Demoustier at his side who is a delight in assisting him, and finds in Laurent Lafitte a very devious Gérard de Villefort, deputy prosecutor. A beautiful adaptation, justified, more modern, and which revives the myth.

Gender : Historical adventure
Directors: Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte
Actors: Pierre Niney, Anaïs Demoustier, Laurent Lafitte, Bastien Bouillon, Anamaria Vartolomei, Vassili Schneider, Julien De Saint-Jean
Country : France
Duration : 2h58
Exit : Friday 28 June 2024
Distributer : Pathé
Synopsis: Victim of a conspiracy, young Edmond Dantès is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After fourteen years of detention at the Château d’If, he managed to escape. Having become immensely rich, he returns under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo to take revenge on the three men who betrayed him.