Der Graf von Monte Christo (The Count of Monte-Cristo, Le Comte de Monte-Cristo)
France/Belgium 2024

Opening 23 Jan 2025

Directed by: Alexandre de La Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte
Writing credits: Alexandre Dumas, Alexandre de La Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte
Principal actors: Pierre Niney, Bastien Bouillon, Anaïs Demoustier, Anamaria Vartolomei, Laurent Lafitte

In 1815 Edmond Dantès (Pierre Niney) saves Angèle (Adèle Simphal) from a shipwreck. The ship’s owner Morrel awards Dantès for this deed by making him the head of the Chateau de Morcef. Mercédès Herrera (Anaïs Demoustier) learns of Dantès’ new promotion and is happy because now they can get married. Her cousin Fernand de Morcef (Bastien Bouillon) will be the godfather. Sadly, on the day of their wedding, Dantès is arrested for being a Bonapartist. The king’s deputy prosecutor is Gérard de Villefort (Laurent Lafitte) in Marseille. He is also Angèle’s brother and has an illegitimate child with his mistress Victoria. Edmond goes to prison. About fourteen years later Edmond manages to escape prison by pretending to be dead. He learns that Mercédès and Fernand are now married and have moved to Paris. Edmond Dantès goes to the island of Monte-Cristo, becomes the island’s count, and eventually adopts André, the son of Villefort.

This goes on and on with action from additional participants: Albert, Danglars, Eugènie, Haydèe, Lord Halifax, Gaspard, Father Faria, Suzanne, etc. There are love affairs, seduction, deaths, a duel, a sword fight, thievery, and a treasure on the island of Monte-Cristo—all over a total of about twenty years. Three hours are necessary to include all the details, but it never tests our patience as we enjoy the action and attempt to identify the characters. A Bonapartist is someone who supports Napoleon and a letter from Napoleon also plays a role. Based on the 1844 book of the same title by Alexandre Dumas, it premiered out of competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. (Becky Tan)