French Connection Film Series highlights 18th-century France

Travel through time to 18th-century France with films exploring life among the aristocracy. This series, presented in conjunction with the exhibition The Orléans Collection, takes place on select Saturday afternoons in November and December. The movies are included with standard admission to the museum.

  • Saturday, November 3, 2 pm: A Little Chaos (Rated R, 2015)
  • Saturday, November 17, 2 pm: The Death of Louis XIV (La mort de Louis XIV) (Not rated, 2017)
  • Saturday, November 24, 2 pm: The Royal Exchange (L’Echange des Princesses) (Not rated, 2017)
  • Saturday, December 1, 2 pm: Dangerous Liaisons (Rated R, 1988)

ABOUT A LITTLE CHAOS

Two talented landscape artists become romantically entangled while building a garden for King Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles. This romantic comedy stars Kate Winslet as Sabine, a talented landscape designer who struggles with class barriers when she falls in love with the court’s renowned landscape arist, André Le Notre, portrayed by Matthias Schoenaerts. (Rated R | 2015 | 1 hour, 52 minutes)

Watch the trailer:

 

ABOUT THE DEATH OF LOUIS XIV (LA MORT DE LOUIS XIV)

Upon returning from a hunting expedition in August 1715, King Louis XIV feels a pain in his leg. The film traces the king’s last days at Versailles, where, surrounded by loyal followers in his royal chambers, he succumbs to death. French with English subtitles. (Not rated | 2016 | 1 hour, 55 minutes)

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ABOUT THE ROYAL EXCHANGE (L’ECHANGE  DES PRINCESSES)

In 1721, French Regent Philippe II, Duc d’Orléans proposes a marriage between the respective heirs to the French and Spanish Crowns: eleven-year-old Louis XV and four-year-old Maria Anna Victoria. The Regent also offers to marry his own daughter to the heir apparent to the Spanish throne. French with English subtitles. (Not rated | 2017 | 1 hour, 40 minutes)

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ABOUT DANGEROUS LIAISONS

This portrait of the 18th-century French aristocracy focuses on a scheming widow and her manipulative ex-lover, who make a bet regarding the corruption of a recently married woman. Adapted from the 18th-century French novel, Les liaisons dangereuses, by Pierre Chodarios de Lacios, the film stars Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Keanu Reeves, and Uma Thurman. The critically acclaimed movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. (Rated R | 1988 | 1 hour, 59 minutes)

Watch the trailer: