Lost Illusions

Director: Xavier Giannoli, Cast: Benjamin Voisin, Cécile de France, Vincent Lacoste. Winner of 7 Cesar Awards including Best Film. French with English subtitles, NR 

In 1821, Lucien de Rubempré arrives in Paris as a sensitive, and idealistic young poet determined to write a reputation-making novel. Instead, he finds himself swept into journalism, whose influence and reach is booming with the help of the printing press, widely available of late. Under the mentorship of cynical editor Étienne Lousteau, Lucien agrees to write rave theater reviews for bribes, achieving material success at the expense of his conscience. With this sweeping adaptation of one of Balzac’s greatest novels, Xavier Giannoli crafts a contemporary tale of corruption amidst an early form of “fake news”. “If there’s any justice this movie will become a touchstone and cult object among the grasping, scheming denizens of the current media jungle.” —A.O. Scott, New York Times