I remember there has been another movie about de Sade in 2000. French Sade was more philosophically inclined, whereas international production Quills went for a theatrical experiment.
The problems with Sade arise if you're informed about the main protagonist beyond the image of grumpy adventurer delivered in the movie. But this is also where we might ask ourselves whether movies about historical events should be based on facts or author's vision.
Either way, Marquis de Sade is past his heyday and seemingly with some regrets. He needs some convincing in order to expose the youngsters to the pleasures of the flesh, eventually revealing just a fraction of his experience. I guess the historical figure wouldn't have hesitated from using and abusing everyone in sight, especially if there had been a possibility to get away with it.
The movie paints de Sade's portrait as a disillusioned eccentric rather than a homicidal pervert he actually had been. Therefore only two stars.
The problems with Sade arise if you're informed about the main protagonist beyond the image of grumpy adventurer delivered in the movie. But this is also where we might ask ourselves whether movies about historical events should be based on facts or author's vision.
Either way, Marquis de Sade is past his heyday and seemingly with some regrets. He needs some convincing in order to expose the youngsters to the pleasures of the flesh, eventually revealing just a fraction of his experience. I guess the historical figure wouldn't have hesitated from using and abusing everyone in sight, especially if there had been a possibility to get away with it.
The movie paints de Sade's portrait as a disillusioned eccentric rather than a homicidal pervert he actually had been. Therefore only two stars.