As a publication ourselves, we at A Good Movie to Watch do not endorse these horrible people (in this great movie).
What it's about
In 19th-century France, a young poet becomes involved in the business of manipulating public relations in the arts through newspaper reviews.
The take
Despite being based on a 19th-century serial novel, Lost Illusions feels remarkably close to contemporary concerns about fake news and the devaluing of art for profit. But as the story is also, obviously, set in the 19th century, all this bribery and these backdoor dealings are done entirely through the written word and by sending runners from one Parisian theater to the next—and the result is uniquely thrilling. Nearly every character is a terrible person (like in an old-timey Goodfellas way) and it can get tiring seeing the film glorify their hustle, but the energy it brings is rare to find in any other period drama.
What stands out
The greatest moments of tension in Lost Illusions don't have to do with any acts of violence or 19th-century gangsters, but in seeing if a theatrical performance will be rewarded with either applause or jeering—the end result of competing newspapers and/or stakeholders in trying to influence various people. But the film is smart enough to go beyond this too; by defining these characters' lives as just a series of transactions, their own relationships and principles become just as easy to buy and sell as well. Again, not too far off from the tabloid vultures and propagandists who toy with public sentiment today.
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Once Were Warriors (1994)
A Maori family survives in an alienating Auckland in this raw, tragic drama
8.0
Silenced (2011)
A brutal and harrowing exposé of the schoolwide abuse case that sparked outrage in Korea
9.0
My Old Ass (2024)
A pleasant mix of comedy and coming-of-age that may or may not leave you in tears
8.0
The Substance (2024)
Demi Moore swaps bodies in this standout chaotic body dysmorphia horror
8.3
Laapataa Ladies (2024)
Two brides are accidentally swapped in this refreshing comedy of errors
8.9
Look Back (2024)
Art connects people through time and space in this short and sweet drama
9.0
Don’t Let Them Shoot the Kite (1989)
A child inspires camaraderie despite imprisonment in this moving classic drama
8.3
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.
8.1
The Guilty (2018)
A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.
9.0
My King (2015)
A lover heals her knee and her heart in this contemplative drama about co-dependency