“Max Ophüls’s 1953 classic Madame De… is a frictionless miracle of camerawork and a marvel of storytelling: erotic, gripping, elegant and mysterious.” — The Guardian

Dir. Max Ophüls, 1953. 105 min. B&W. 35mm.
With Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica
In French with English subtitles

Nominee Academy Awards for Best Costume Design (1955)

By following a pair of earrings as they get passed from hand to hand, German-born Max Ophuls traces the loves and losses of an aristocratic woman in Belle Époque Paris, encapsulating the follies of passion and the tragedy of deception.

A crucial inspiration to Hollywood masters ranging from Martin Scorsese to P.T. Anderson, this tour de force finds Ophuls reaching a peak of refinement and melancholy, his gliding camera expressing the merciless passage of time while capturing the eternal charm of stars Danielle Darrieux, Charles Boyer, and Vittorio De Sica. As Andrew Sarris put it, “the most perfect film ever made.”

Talk at 6:45pm by Olivier Barrot
Take a fresh look at this iconic French film with acclaimed journalist and TV personality Olivier Barrot. During a 30-minute talk in French, Barrot will share his passionate insights, taking you deep into the social and cultural contexts of the film. Talk is open to audiences of both screenings.