Children of the Century êê ( NR )

Reviewed By Cathy Edsey Collins

Love among the literary

Juliette Binoche: George Sand	Benoit Magimel: Alfred de Musset
Stefano Dionisi: Pietro Pagello	Diane Kurys: Director/Writer/Producer

30 Second Bottom Line: Based-on-fact story about the tempestuous love affair between feminist writer George Sand and poet/playwright Alfred de Musset during the mid-1800's.

Tell Me More About It: She rocked her 19th century world. Known formally as the Baroness Dudevant and the mother of two, this ahead-of-her-time feminist changed her name to George Sand, paraded around in men's clothing, smoked cigars and wrote novels that boldly confronted female sexuality and the enslavement of marriage. Daring to actually blame incompetent men for a woman's frigidity, she defied the social conventions of the day.

"Children of the Century" focuses on Sand's schizophrenic love-hate relationship with the successful poet/playwright Alfred de Musset. Played by Binoche's real-life main squeeze Benoit Magimel, Musset is painted as a spoiled brat and Sand, ultimately seems like the naïve innocent for putting up with his baloney-hence the film's title.

Unfortunately, unless viewers have a rudimentary knowledge of these two famous literary figures, this film will leave many restless for more

Set in Paris and Venice, "Children of the Century" is a feast for the eyes, filmed on location and accented by the elaborate costuming of Christian La Croix. Alas, this is not enough to fill in the gaping holes in this skeletal script that simply doesn't dig deep enough to capture this literary duo's complex relationship.

Indeed, the pattern of the entire film consists of their making passionate love, Musset abandoning her for the brothels and his opium, their steamy reconciliation, with this cycle repeating itself over and over. An early scene exposes his violent temper when he stabs his brother's hand with a fork. So it was not surprising when, in a murderous jealous rage, this manic-depressive druggie throws Sand to the floor and begins to strangle her. I was astounded, however, when she took him back-again and again.

And that is the real flaw of this film. We keep asking why and a shadow of an answer is never offered. There is vague talk about their writing, but never any details about its content. The scowl of Musset's face when Sand is taken ill in Venice is never explained. "I am not a good nurse," he says as he walks out the door. Huh? And why is Sand so stupid about this goof when she is supposedly so hip on women's issues? A female soliloquy would have helped and a tad more character development as well.

These were two of the 19th century's greatest romantic writers but "Children of the Century" barely alludes to that fact. The screenplay was apparently based on Musset's autobiography but perhaps Sand's own account of the affair in her memoir, She and He, would have been more insightful, given her penchant for boldness.

Trimmed of 20 minutes from its original length when first released in France in 1999, "Children of the Century" is mercifully shorter but still lacks momentum. A little less melodrama and a bit more exposition would have worked wonders.

A much wittier take on the flamboyant Sand can be seen in 1990's "Impromptu," which centers on the true account of the author's obsession with composer Fredric Chopin. Judy Davis' lusty portrayal of this larger-than-life writer, and Hugh Grant's tentative turn as the famed musician, add immeasurably to this charming, intelligent film.

Juliette Binoche: "Chocolat", "The English Patient"	Benoit Magimel: "The Piano Player"
Stefano Dionisi: "Farinelli"	Diane Kurys: "Entre Nous", "A la Folie"