Highest rating because I am happy the French can still pull off films that are fully in character with the culture of the 18th century. This film is right up there with "Ridicule" and, even Dangerous Liaisons.

Don't pay attention to the negative reviews below from people that probably like action movies a bit too much and watch this! The movie does start off a bit slow but Édouard Baer and Cecile de France manage to convey their emotions without overacting (something that is too common in this kind of movies). The plot is great and the slow descent into hell of the main character is well orchestrated.

Overall, i was very pleasantly surprised and would recommend this movie to anyone with a bit of sensitivity.

'Mademoiselle de Joncquières' (or 'Lady J.' as sounds the title under which it was distributed in English, avoiding the difficulties of French spelling),the film made in 2018 by Emmanuel Mouret was a pleasant surprise. I confess that I had not seen any film by this French director before and that I was a little reluctant when reading that it was a gallant-romantic story from the 18th century, a free adaptation of a novel by Diderot. The presence in the cast of Cécile de France an actress I like, as beautiful as she is intelligent, convinced me to see the film. I sat down in front of the screen for her, I got much more.

The Marquis de Arcis (Edouard Baer) is one of those men of his century who inspired the character of Don Juan, the womanizing serial conqueror of female hearts. Madame de la Pommeraye (Cécile de France) is a beautiful and intelligent widow, who gives in to the charms of the conqueror to be abandoned when he gets bored and moves on to the next target. Together with her friend and confidante Lucienne (Laure Calamy),she devises a plan of revenge involving Madame (Natalia Dontcheva) and Mademoiselle de Joncquières (Alice Isaaz),mother and daughter, impoverished women forced into prostitution. The conflicts and intrigues of the nobility cause suffering to the other people, but the consequences will be borne by all.

What are the secrets to the success of this version of the story of 'Mademoiselle de Joncquières'? First of all, cinematography. Both the natural landscapes and the interiors are composed with style and attention to detail, reminiscent of late Baroque paintings. The color palette is superb, and the costumes fit into landscapes and interiors. Emmanuel Mouret did not necessarily pursue authenticity, the costumes and sets being more a representation of the way we imagine the 18th century France before the revolution than a historical reconstruction. He spared his characters from wearing wigs, which was a must at the time, and let Edouard Baer wear a beard that dates back the centuries before and after the 18th century. However, the characters are authentic in the way they move and especially in the way they speak. Taking over the dialogues from Diderot and other Enlightenment authors, the screenwriters managed to create an elegant and expressive atmosphere. The acting is all excellent, and the only reproach I would bring to the script and production is the weakness of the two female characters from the 'lower classes' - Madame and Mademoiselle de Joncquières. They should provide a realistic counterpoint to the fairytale life of the nobility, describing the economic and social chasm that was the main cause of the French Revolution. Unfortunately, they don't have enough screen time or text of the same intensity and quality as the rest of the characters. We will surely will meet Alice Isaaz, the beautiful and talented young actress who plays Mademiselle de Joncquières, in many films in the future, and I hope that they will be at least of the quality of this production.