Displaying items by tag: Thierry Klifa

LA FEMME LA PLUS RICHE DU MONDE/ THE RICHEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD

France, 2025, 125 minutes, Colour.

Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Marina Fois, Raphael Personnaz, André Marcon, Mathieu Demy. Paul Beaurepaire.

Directed by Thierry Klifa.

While this is a fictional story, raising of all kinds of emotions as the audience watches some erratic behaviour among the wealthy, is actually based on actual characters in a court case in the early 2000’s. The original was the French Oreol perfume family.

And, perhaps, who better to portray the richest woman in the world in the French film than Isabelle Huppert, by now one of the grandes dames of French cinema? She has a compelling presence even when she is silent or scarcely moving in a scene. Her character, Marianne, has inherited the company from her father and is absolutely devoted to his memory, wary of any threat to his reputation or to his company. She sits on the board, observes, intervenes, has her definite likes and dislikes.

And, into her life comes a rather sweeping character, a photographer, Pierre-Alain, played with zest and gusto by Laurent Lafitte, employed to photograph Marianne for a popular magazine and for company promotion, her being entranced by his lively personality, charm, playing up to her. At first, the audience may be charmed, but then we see his rather narcissistic personality, his ability to exploit situations, his lack of inhibitions in most situations, at times taking over the household, bringing in his partner, the dismay of the rest of the family, a very serious-minded group.

And the enchanted and infatuated Marianne, so much money to disperse and whims, finances him, Gallery and exhibitions, his flattering her, helping her to enjoy life, and making his own ever more comfortable.

There are some background themes of French politics, the film set in the era of President Mitterrand and, the world of business, political ambition and advancement, but also themes harking back to World War II, the Vichy government, the treatment of the Jews, the Resistance.

Eventually, Marianne’s husband dying, her stepdaughter and family deciding to take action, life becomes very unpleasant, lawyers, courts, deals, Pierre-Alain wary, struggling to protect his benefits and to avoid prison. As always Marianne, lost from the world that had been charming and extravagant now experiences her inability to cope with the real world.

There has always been a fascination with lives of the rich and famous, the glitter of wealth, responsibility and irresponsibility, but there is always a price to pay in emotions, relationships, and the question of what is really a worthwhile life.

1. Derived from the actual Bettencourt court case, the Oreal family heritage? The basic characters, enhanced with fiction?
2. The French settings, the 1980s and 1990s, the political background, President Mitterand, issues, influence, ministers? The world of finance, creativity, board meetings? Wealthy living? The background musical score, atmosphere of the period?
3. The title, the focus on Marianne, Isabelle Huppert and her screen presence, her career, the marriage, her older husband, his career, her stepdaughter and attitudes, her husband and son? The family situation with wealth, Marianne and her admiration for her father, his inventiveness, setting up the business, her inheriting the wealth, lavish, bar mitzvah gifts, her behaviour, regal manner?
4. The family, her husband, age, political influence, the company, wealth, the revelation of his background, siding with the Vichy government, young, changing his attitude, becoming a partisan? The media raising the issues, the effect on him? His death, the funeral and Marianne’s behaviour?
5. The Jewish background, ceremonies, memories of the wall, anti-Semitism. Frederique and her family, ritual celebrations? The role of the board, Marianne and lack of confidence in Jean-Marc?
6. Frederique, encouraging Marianne for the photographs, the publicity, the magazines? Hiring Pierre-Alain, his reputation and talents?
7. Pierre-Alain, personality, overwhelming, talent as a photographer, his style, control, Marianne and her response, Frederique wary? The sessions, the clothes, his advice, joking, boisterous, taking control?
8. Marianne, her response, enlivened, fascinated, amused, attracted, the money granted, his studio? Continually involved, relying on him, his coming to the house, jokes, entertaining her, the reaction of the rest of the family?
9. Pierre-Alain, gay, the presence of Raphael, the relationship, Raphael and his observations? The freedom of the house, Marianne accepting them?
10. The effect on Marianne, continually extravagant, Pierre-Alain’s exhibitions, the media, criticism? His shrewdness, manipulating Marianne, the freedom of the house, jokes, the pool, meals…?
11. Marianne’s husband, his reaction, tolerance? His death? Frederique and her reaction, the finance, the relationship between the two women?
12. The consultation of the lawyers, the meetings with lawyers, the advice, finance and advisers? Marianne, bewilderment, personal events, Frederique, the confrontations? With Jean-Marc, the board, Charles and his being on the board, intervening?
13. Pierre-Alain, the reactions, his fighting against the impositions, Raphael and his support?
14. The court cases, the hearings, the situation, the money, extravagance, arrangements and deals, signing documents, Marianne and Pierre-Alain, issues of jail?
15. The aftermath, Marianne by herself, alienation from Frederique and her family, left alone, to die?