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The Story of Adele H.

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4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The descent into delusion and insanity is skillfully portrayed by Isabelle Adjani in this film that opens by stating that it is about "events that really happened, and people who really existed".
Set mostly in Halifax, beginning in 1863, the cinematography by Nestor Almendros is exquisite, with the camera lovingly capturing Adjani's gorgeous face. Using a somber palette, with occasional patches of brilliant red, it often has the look of an old painting, and the music of the early 20th century composer Maurice Jaubert fits in nicely.

Francois Truffaut (who 19 minutes into the film makes a brief cameo appearance) tells this story with gentleness and sensitivity, keeping the pace flowing; though a rather gloomy tale, it never gets either depressing or boring. It shows what started out as love, with a resolution to bravely cross the ocean to be with her lover, become increasingly demented, from being a stalker, to debasing herself by her willingness to "share", to the end, which takes place in Barbados. In the short and almost mute part of Baa, Madame Louise is a powerful and beautiful presence.

Adjani won numerous awards for this 1975 film, and was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar (Louise Fletcher won for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"). Though the make-up is subtle and clever, it's her stellar performance that bring believability to this film.
The historical photos and information in the final scene are fascinating, and make for a satisfying ending to another of Truffaut's great films, and one I have enjoyed seeing numerous times.

Thirty years later it is hard to imagine "The Story of Adele H" without the then twenty-year old Isabelle Adjani as the title character. But at the time Truffaut's decision to cast the young French theatre star was very risky. Not because there was any doubt about Adjani's acting, but because casting someone who was arguably the most beautiful actress in the world as a character driven mad by unrequited love raised a potential credibility issue. Would viewers believe that the advances of a woman so beautiful, passionate, and intelligent were rejected? And could someone like that elicit sympathy from the average viewer.

But Truffaut knew what he was doing because Adjani's Adele Hugo is 100% convincing. And rather than going for audience sympathy they go for audience frustration as the viewer is increasingly exasperated over Adele's self-destructive behavior. Adjani's breathtaking beauty actually is an asset as Truffaut wants you convinced that the world offers unlimited possibilities for Adele if only she can let go of her obsession. Adjani plays the character with such intensity that you are finally relieved when Adele's madness has reached the stage where she is no longer aware of her own suffering.

Apparently Adele had other issues before going on her obsessive quest for love. Her sister drowned a few years before and her parents had always strongly favored her sister. Adele has recurrent nightmares about drowning. Marriage and her pursuit of Pinson are her only way to escape from her famous father. Truffaut's stays with blacks, browns, and blues; with much of each frame filled with shadows; not exactly dreary but consistent with a character who has found little non-fantasy happiness during her life.

The camera loves Adjani, a good thing as she is on screen for over 90% of the film. She was the youngest nominee ever for best actress. It was the best performance of the 1970's, probably no one but Adjani could have conveyed such inner emotional violence. It is that extremely rare visual performance that does not need subtitles or even sound.

As Roger Ebert noted: "Truffaut finds a certain nobility in Adele. He quotes one of the passages in her diaries twice: She writes that she will walk across the ocean to be with her lover. He sees this, not as a declaration of love, but as a statement of a single-mindedness so total that a kind of grandeur creeps into it. Adele was mad, yes, probably - but she lived her life on such a vast and romantic scale that it's just as well Pinson never married her. He would have become a disappointment".

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Isabelle Adjani again takes on a role of the rejected lover. This is the true story of Victor Hugo's daughter Adele, who enamoured of a military man, follows him to Halifax and refuses to accept his rejection. She does a fine job of depicting a young lady who has gone off the edge. The story is reminiscent of her portrayal of Camille Claudel, another excellent movie. Isabelle Adjani is beautiful to look at and does a fine job of portraying Adele. I enjoyed this film very much. For those who do not understand French, there are moments when English is used throughout the film. The subtitles do justice to the French.

This is the most amazing story of obsessive love I have ever seen. Isabel Adjani is so attractive it takes my breath away. I could watch this movie over and over, and have. The cinematography is very good, and the acting is also exceptional.

I first saw this movie 20+ years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. I'm not sure if that's because of the beautiful Isabelle Adjani, or because it's a heart-breaking romance. The H in Adele H stands for Hugo, and yes, she is the daughter of the great French writer, Victor Hugo. I don't remember a spectacular setting, or a mighty cast of characters, but I do remember a tragic romance and a most gorgeous woman. It's not action packed, but it will get to you. Maybe watch it alone on a quiet evening.

This is done in a semi-documentary style in that it switches back and forth between a narrative format and dramatic scenes. It deals with the life of the daughter of Victor Hugo and her obsession with a young British officer who lacks even the slightest interest in her. It was quite well done and visually beautiful, but a bit hard to take as she deteriorates from a beautiful, well-off young girl into a street crazy. Don't watch this if you are looking for a happy ending, feel-good sort of film or have a lot of scars from an unrequited love (a friend of mine couldn't finish watching it), but if you have an interest in 19th century culture and society it is worth your time.

Isabelle Adjani plays the title role, that of Adele Hugo, daughter of the great French writer, a woman obsessively in love with an English army lieutenant who doesn't want her. The scene is Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the time of the American Civil War. She has followed Lt. Pinson (Bruce Robinson) from her home in exile on the island of Guernsey to be with him even though he has rejected her. Adjani's sensuous beauty and her intense and passionate nature command the screen and we are drawn to identify with her as she spirals toward madness as her abject pleas of love are unrequited. We watch as she debases herself in every way possible in a desperate attempt to gain Pinson's love, even to the point of giving him to other women. She is psychologically pleased with this because she thinks it shows that her love for him transcends sexuality. Of course the nature of obsessive love is always entirely selfish. If you really love someone who doesn't want you, you have to let them go. But of course she cannot.

Francois Truffaut directed and did a fine job of getting the most out of his young star. The maddening nature of obsession is well depicted and the story is focused and unfolds at a deliberate pace. Noteworthy is the setting itself, a cold and remote clime so that Adele is in isolation from her home, family and friends with little to do or think about every day except her obsession. It is easy to see how something like this can lead to complete madness.

Memorable is a little story within the larger tale, that of the fraudulent hypnotist whom Adele thinks might be able to turn Pinson's indifference into love.

Based on the true story about the obsessive love of Adele Hugo (daughter of Victor Hugo and played beautifully by Isabelle Adjani) for a French soldier (Albert Pinson, played by Bruce Robinson). Adele and Pinson were once lovers and even contemplated marriage, but her family would not consent at first so Pinson leaves - and eventually falls out of love. He joins the army and goes to Halifax, but Adele follows him.

She tries everything to get him to love her again - in vain. She keeps a journal in which she fabricates a life for herself filled with success, where in reality there's only been failure. She slowly slips into madness. When Pinson is shipped to Barbados she even follows him there, living a beggars life in rags; she's totally insane now: she sees Pinson on the street one day and doesn't even recognize him anymore.

Truffaut's brilliance here is not just in the way he develops and explores the passions that motivate and come to obsess Adele, which is moving and intelligent, but also in the way he's able to never allow our sympathies to desert her even though her obsession becomes totally irrational. Adjani is radiant at times as her face reveals the pain of her broken heart. Another gem from Truffaut.

Being a fan of Truffaut and having seen such great movies of his as THE BRIDE WORE BLACK, THE 400 BLOWS, and THE WILD CHILD i expected this film to be as great but unfortunatly it was not as great as the ones i have mentioned but it is not one of Truffaut's worst either. It manages to make the cut because of great direction, cinematography, costumes, sets, locations, and most of all because of Isabelle Adjani's great and haunting performance, a performance for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for best actress and an award she should have won but which she lost to Louise Fletcher for ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. She portrays the daughter of Victor Hugo, Adele Hugo (hence the H in the title). The story is based on true events which were recorded in a diary the real Adele kept. Adele falls in love with a soldier she met in France and soon after he leaves her and goes to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The movie begins by showing us Adele arriving in Nova Scotia and from then on we see her try to win her love back but he reveals he had no serious intentions with her and she becomes obsessed with getting him back. She has little pride and dignity and she does what she has to do to get him back and we see her suffer and through journal entries and letters we understand what she is going through psychologically. But for some reason the movie never becomes totally emotioanlly involving which is the problem. If it had it would have been a masterpiece. I think this might be due to the script in some way. But if not for Adjani this might have been a mediocre movie. You can't take your eyes off her delicate beauty. As Truffaut once said "you could make a movie about just her face." Also look for a cameo by Truffaut as a soldier who runs into Adjani on the street.

I just watched the film last night after spotting it at my local library. I am an avid Truffaut fan, but have not had the opportunity to watch this film.

I must say that it does not come off as a truly 'Truffaut' film. The acting is good, actually very good at certain points. It just plays like a very good period piece, which it is.

The film actually centers around the true story of Adele Hugo, daughter of Victor Hugo. She flees her family's estate on Guernsey for Halifax, Nova Scotia, following her former lover. She is obsessed with the man and her obsession becomes (or is a result from) a form of her inherent madness. The film takes us over several years of her life.

It is interesting that the film is so touching. We see that the young man had previously duped Adele with promises of marriage in order to 'lie with her'. This traumatized young Adele and she wanted nothing in the world but for the young man to marry her. She begins furiously writing a journal (which is how we now know that what happened was truth). Though she originally disguises her identity, it soon becomes apparent to the people around her who she really is.

Overall the story is history, but also shows a woman's slow descent into madness. What starts as an obsession quickly deepens into a severe emotional collapse. Adele is so likable at times, yet we see this progression and feel sorry for her instead of feeling cynical.

The film is rather good, though I probably won't pick it up to watch a second time.