Product Description

Sade, based on the Serge Bramly novel of the same title, is an account of how the famous philanthropist and infamous pornographer met, befriended and fell in love with a young woman during his incarceration.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39972 in DVD
• Brand: Genius
• Released on: 2003-12-09
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.com
"Only in excess can one find liberty." Oh, that's right--the Marquis de Sade wasn't just a freaky-deaky sex fiend, he was also a philosopher. And that's the side illuminated in Sade, a marvelously chewy look at an episode from the life of the indecent marquis. In 1794, after the Revolution, Robespierre has imprisoned Sade in a comfortable old nunnery, along with some royalists. Daniel Auteuil's superb performance in the title role brings a lifetime of scandalous living to Sade's face, and he makes the man utterly unapologetic. By the time Sade deflowers a fascinated young woman, the act is more a defiant political statement (for both of them) than a naughty roll in the hay. This is another good one from director Benoît Jacquot (A Single Girl, Seventh Heaven), whose work always manages to be calm but passionate. It certainly tops Quills, another look at the enigma of Sade. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Fabulous French Cinema
This review refers to the DVD(Wellspring)edition of "Sade"...

Daniel Auteuil gives a mesmerizing performance as the Marquis de Sade in this wonderful film depicting de Sade's confinement during one of the most violent chapters of French history.

Heads roll(literally) in late 18th century France. It is the time of the "Reign of Terror" and many aristocrats await their fate...the guillotine! A special sanitarium is used for these upper-crust offenders and de Sade is among them. Found to be immoral and not fit for society, the man who lends his name to what we now call "sadism", never ceases to persue his right to express himself. Even many of the other prisoners feel he is beneath their station in life. But he brings a new awareness to them and when a young girl, the teenage daughter of one of these families expresses her regret that she will die before "experiencing" life, Sade makes it his mission to make sure she is awakened sensually before the end!

This film is beautifully directed by Benoit Jacquot. It captures the essence of the period with the exquiste cinematography of the settings, the authentic costumes, and the outstanding performances of the very talented cast.Although a fictionalized account, the story is believeable and you will get lost in this time and place. Auteuil will have you under his spell in no time. Marianne Denicourt is perfect in her portrayal of Sade's mistress who will do whatever it takes to keep him alive, and Isild Le Besco is remarkable in her intuitive performance of the young Emilie who turns to Sade in her time of fear.

The DVD by Wellspring is top of the line. The widescreen(2.35:1 aspect ratio) picture is gorgeuos. The colors are vibrant.The sourround sound is excellent. You have the choice of DD5.1 or 2.0. You can also choose to have the English subtitles on or off. The subtitles are clear and well placed. Features include an insightful interview with director Jacquot, and filmographies.

A fabulous piece of French cinema, but it may not be for everybody. The guillotine scenes may be disturbing to some, and of course with the main subject being the Marquis de Sade, there are some scenes that are quite erotic.(if this were an American film it may fall into the NC-17 rating).

If you are a fan of Auteuil, French films, or just fine filmmaking, have a look at "Sade".

Merci and...enjoy...Laurie

also recommended:Marat/SadeakaThe Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat As Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of The Marquis de Sade (or Marat Sade) same book with different titles - check forbest deal

A Refreshing Look at Sade
In Sade, the course of events that unfolds takes place predominantly at the Couvent of Picpus - where everything seems to hover over an atmosphere of emptiness and a lack of dramatic twists and turns, albeit an undercurrent of death was in fact persistently pervading the unknown fates of a resigned aristocratic, motley crew.

That the sense of nihilism that pervades the film cannot be overlooked - neither should it be overstated. Sade acts as a form of commentary on the plight of his fellow inmates - a parody of their plight that perhaps shouldn't be taken too seriously. Through bawdy banter, philosophical quips, a play-turned-mime and eventually a sex ritual, Sade provides antidotes to an environment of uncertainty and nihilism into one that is filled with curious alternatives and untrodden by-roads.

The style of director Jacquot is informal to the point the film looks like a documentary rather than an epic narrative on Sade. Nevertheless, the set is gorgeous and tableaux-like, each movement and background carefully nuanced and crafted, the audience partaking as a voyeur in the whole process.

Auteuil's genius in portraying Sade could only be described as sublime - if only it wasn't his on-screen persona that was emanated. The rest of the cast make for an interesting potpourri of individuals; Emilie de Lancris with her insousciant yet inquisitive youthfulness stokes a vivacious coupling with an inveterate Sade, the (mis)matching necessaire of the chevalier and his protector, Vicomte de Lancris with his adulterous affair and world-wearied wife and the opportunistic but stately landlord Coignard and last but not least - the cool allure of Madame Quesnet, Sade's wife.

The film also displays sensitivity to historical accuracy in terms of costuming - Robespierre's appearance and clothes well-resembled those he wore in his portraits, assuming the style known as the Italianate "Incroyable" in the first half of the 1790s. The scene showing the storming of the Hotel de Ville was also realistic, with Robespierre's brother jumping out of the window to flee persecution. However, the execution scene did not reflect the report that Robespierre was faced up at the guillotine. A guillotine was indeed, as records show, placed before the gates of the Picpus convent.

This is a film that will indisputably challenge one's pre-existing perception of Sade and perhaps even come to accept this portrayal of Sade as philosophical, thoughtful liberal of his day, rather than merely a sex-craved, perversed maniac that he has come to be identified with under the much-abused term known as Sadism.

P.S. The whites of the film looked yellowish and greenish on the DVD format, while the VCD was much better in terms of colour. However the DVD version preserved the original uncut versions which demystified the parts that had been censored on my VCD version. It also comes with an interesting interview with the director Jacquot, Auteuil and Denicourt as well as some behind-the-scenes shots.

A film about French history and seminal historical character that is absolutely necessary to and could only be performed in French!

Fairly good interpretation
Anything with Daniel Auteil is usually worth watching, great actor as he is. I have been on the lookout for a copy of 'The Elegant Criminal', in which he gives a mesmerising performance, but it seems not to have been released on DVD just yet. Having said that, this film (thankfully) barely touches the surface of the Marquis De Sade's life and 'philosophy', and is a typical French period piece. The only real tension in the story is the growing sexual awareness of the young woman whose family are awaiting execution. There was a tendency in French cinema during this time, which was discussed in the contemporary press, for the main theme of the story to be inevitably revolving around the Directors' desires to get the latest sexy nymph of the French cinema to disrobe (think of Emanuelle Beart skipping around starkers in 'Manon de Source' (not that I'm complaining)). Viewers watching the film in the hope of some brief nudity will not be disappointed, however there is something vaguely voyeuristic about the viewer watching Sade's inculcation of the sexual innocent into the ways of pleasure, so to speak. I suppose this sort of French cinema does not pack the punch it once did, and is rendered positively tame by the standards of today's directors who revel in so-called 'torture-porn' which seems to be all the rage. One can only imagine what a director of the inclinations of Eli Roth and his ilk would do with such material. Still, a beautifully photographed and acted film that brings alive some of the horrors at the time of the Revolution without completely assaulting our senses. Well worth adding to your collection as a fine example of European cinema.