The story of the Marquis de Sade's imprisonment was told with bluster in 2000's "Quills," starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet and Joaquin Phoenix. French director Benoit Jacquot tells it again but in a much more urbane, subtler film. "Sade," also released in 2000, makes its Milwaukee premiere this weekend.
This time Daniel Auteuil -- sort of France's Bobby DeNiro -- stars as the controversial Marquis, imprisoned by the Robespierre's men after the revolution for his novels, which feature racy sexual scenes and promote Sade's own self-avowed atheism.
The 50-year-old Sade is spared the guillotine for his "immoral" and "unworthy" work, but, rather, is sent to Picpus, a convent turned prison for wealthy society men, women and children. He is spared because his mistress -- and mother of his son -- Marie Constance Quesnet (Marianne Denicourt) surrenders to the pursuits of Fournier (Gregoire Colin), a disciple especially beloved by Robespierre (Scali Delpeyrat).
As the rich men and women at Picpus pass the time gossiping, playing cards and having tea, Sade is snubbed by one and all for his lascivious books and looks and for his provocative humor. He loves it, though, and makes the most of shocking and upsetting his fellow prisoners.
{INSERT_RELATED}But he sets his sights on young Emilie De Lancris (Isild Le Besco) and sets out to become her mentor. He's not looking to sleep with her, but to open her eyes to the pleasures of a sensual -- and sexual -- life.
This he does slowly, by exposing Emilie to his works, to his philosophies, and in one especially shocking scene, to the family jewels of the Picpus gardener.
He also attempts to stage a play and seems to almost get away with it, although not making it quite as far as Rush did in "Quills."
Meanwhile, Quesnet's affair with Fournier is turning ugly. Luckily for her, the balance of power in Paris is shifting and she won't have much longer to deal with the smug, violent Fournier.
The 100-minute film -- in French with English subtitles -- is slow-paced, but not slow-moving, thanks to an engaging script and, especially, to Auteuil, whom the camera simply loves. He is always a joy to watch and gives us a differen, somewhat more benign, view of Rush's demonic lech.
"Sade," which is not a film about an Anglo-Nigerian R&B singer and is therefore not pronounced "Shar-Day," screens at UWM's Union Theatre, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., on the second floor, Fri.-Sun., Dec. 20-22, at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. There is no 5 p.m. on Friday.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
