Comedy,Drama,Romance
France
Ridicule is a 1996 period drama film set in 18th century France. The story revolves around the life of a poor nobleman named Ponceludon de Malavoy who lives in a small village in the French countryside. He is an idealistic man who hopes to improve the lives of his fellow villagers by constructing a drainage system to prevent flooding of their lands.
Ponceludon travels to Versailles to seek the royal backing for his project. However, he soon realizes that he needs to master the art of wit and irony if he wants to gain favor in the eyes of the court monarchs. The ridicule or mockery, the courtiers heap upon lower classes has made them experts in wit and satire. Hence Ponceludon must master the game of wit to survive and succeed.
At Versailles, Ponceludon meets and falls in love with Madame de Blayac, a beautiful and intelligent woman who is deeply involved in the court politics. She mentors Ponceludon and trains him in the rules of the court. With her help, he learns to engage in verbal sparring matches with the courtiers and gains the attention of the powerful Marquis de Bellegarde. Ponceludon becomes a popular figure at the court, but soon realizes that he has become part of a game that he never wanted to play.
As Ponceludon's fame grows, he begins to question his values and principles. He becomes disillusioned with the court's superficiality and the cunning games of wit that they play. He falls out of favor with the king and the court when he speaks out against the lavish and frivolous lifestyle of the royals. He realizes that he cannot compromise his values for success and leaves the court to return to his village to build his drainage project.
Ridicule is a film that critiques the decadence and corruption of the aristocracy and the powerful in France. It is an ode to the power of words and the importance of authenticity. The film received critical acclaim for its stunning cinematography, brilliant script, and outstanding performances by the cast. It won four César Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.
