Isabelle Huppert is a goddess of French cinema. She’s acted in over 120 films and is the most nominated actress for the César, the French Oscar. She’s been in so many historical costume movies that we have to feature her!
Figaro-ci, Figaro-là (1972)
A TV film about Beaumarchais, the 18th-century author of the famous plays The Barber of Seville (1775) and The Marriage of Figaro (1784). Huppert plays “Pauline.”
They went very “white wig” I see.
But the costumes look interesting — presuming that’s a stage costume on the left!
The Bar at the Crossing (1972)
An adventure film set in 1916 Canada. Isabelle plays temptress “Annie.”
Alrighty then.
Qui êtes-vous Monsieur Renaudot? (1972)
Another TV film, this one about 17th-century Théophraste Renaudot — a French physician, philanthropist, and journalist. Huppert plays “Marthe enfant,” which I think means the young Marthe Renaudot.
I’m not sure this is such a good look…
Histoire vraie (1973)
Unclear exactly what this is about, but it’s based on the writings of Guy de Maupassant.
19th century? 1970s? Who knows!
Les Grandes heures de notre vie: La Mort (1973)
An adaptation of a Tolstoy novel set in the 1870s. Huppert plays “Lisa.”
She has a lot of hair?
Aloïse (1974)
About Swiss artist Aloïse Corbaz and set in the 1900s-10s. Huppert plays the young Aloïse.
She does suit Edwardian perfectly.
Madame Baptiste (1974)
Another early 1900s-set adaptation of a Guy de Maupassant novel involving rape and suicide. Huppert plays the lead role of Blanche Fontanel.
And now 1970s hairstyles make SO much more sense…
The guy looks like a young Kyle MacLachlan with bad facial hair.
No idea, but it’s interesting to look at!
Le Juge et l’assassin (1975)
About a real-life 1890s French serial killer, Joseph Vacher; Huppert plays “Rose.”
Fuzzy, can’t see much.
Il était un musicien: Monsieur Saint Saëns (1978)
A French TV series that I think focuses on various musicians? This one is about Camille Saint-Saëns, a French composer active in the 1860s-80s. Huppert plays “the young girl.”
Ditto.
Violette (1978)
A dramatization of a real-life 1933 French murder involving Violette Nozière, a prostitute.
She’s a Romeo & Juliet/Lillian Gish fan?
I do love a good finger wave.
And a chic hat!
Les Soeurs Brontë (1979)
A French-language dramatization of the lives of the three Brontë sisters; Huppert plays Anne, author of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
I Do Not Understand The Choices Made Here.
Like, WHY THE RANDOM CRIMPED PATCH??!!
Coup de Torchon (1981)
A crime movie set in 1938 French West Africa. Huppert plays “mischievous young bride” Rose.
The Lady of the Camellias (1981)
The life of 1840s courtesan Alphonsine Plessis, the inspiration for the novel La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils. Huppert, of course, plays Alphonsine.
SO pretty! Is that fur?
True fact: add a veil and anything becomes fabulous.
Sleeve ruffles!
Great color combination.
Les Possédés (1987)
Set in the 1870s and based on a Dostoyevsky novel about revolutionary nihilists. Huppert plays “Maria Sjatov.”
She looks like Meryl Streep in that one movie…
Migrations (1989)
A French-Yugoslav film about “the fate of mercenaries in the baroque wars of the 18th century, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian rule over the Serbs.” Huppert plays “Dafina Isakovic.”
I truly think this is the shittiest head necklace I have ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of head necklaces.
Madame Bovary (1991)
The 1850s-set story of a small-town adulterous wife, based on the novel by Gustave Flaubert. Huppert plays the titular Emma Bovary.
Oooo love the sparkle!
Gorgeous green.
#NoFucksGiven
Such a beautifully done ensemble.
Les Affinités éléctives (1995)
A French-Italian film that’s an adaptation of a Goethe novel; looks like it’s possibly set in the early 19th century? Huppert plays “Carlotta / Charlotte.”
The King’s Daughters (2000)
A story about Madame de Maintenon, last wife of Louis XIV, and the girls school she set up at Saint-Cyr in the 1680s.
I’d definitely like to see this, if for no other reason than because it’s not an era done frequently!
Les Destinées (2001)
An adaptation of Les Destinées sentimentales by Jacques Chardonne. Set in the early 20th century, a Protestant minister leaves his wife for another and has to run a porcelain factory. Huppert plays the left wife.
I watched this and remember nothing.
Gabrielle (2005)
Set in the early 20th century, about a married couple facing difficulties; based on a story by Joseph Conrad. Huppert plays Gabrielle, the wife.
Marital bliss.
OK this is great with the spangled net layers and the pearl choker.
The Nun (2015)
An adaptation of an 18th-century Diderot novel, about a young girl who is forced to become a nun; Huppert plays one of her mothers superior.
There are a lot of interesting costumes in this movie; these just don’t happen to be among them.
What’s your favorite Isabelle Huppert historical role?
She was also the female lead in “Heaven’s Gate” – the movie that simultaneously sank United Artists and Michael Cimino.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(film)
You missed “Les lignes de Wellington”. That’s a very boring film set during the Peninsular Campaign. But Vincent Perez and Isabelle Hubert are just perfect in their short roles.
“St. Cyr” (2000) is a very interesting film and Isabelle Huppert got much of praise for her acting there, although I think that J-F Balmer (known for his magificant work as Louis XVI in “La Revolution Francaise” (1989)) was even more interesting as the old Racine, who had his troubles with the young girls.
Well, some of these are lovely (wow that blue/print combo! and the one with the veil!). But I have to admit my eye was drawn by the WhatTheFrock moments…
-Apparently 1916 Canada is roughly equivalent both to medievalish Disney Aurora and the ethnic costume of my Central European great grandmother from around the turn of the century.
-I assume it’s ribbon, but what is that purple pom pom/sea urchin on the corset top?
-Yes, that is truly The Worst Head Necklace® ever.
8 femmes! She’s brilliant, huge fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdgopuQCulk
You forgot “une affaire de femmes”, set in WWII, the true story of the last women suffering death penalty in France, executed for performing illegal abortions: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_of_Women
Among the other actors are François Cluzet, Marie Trintignant, Marie Bunel and Dominique Blanc.
I think that may be Lillian Gish as Romola from the George Eliot novel.
and to go with the worst head-necklace some “straight out of Joann fabrics” trim! Yikes!
I tend to adore Isabelle in almost anything, even “Les Soeurs Brontë,” which was pretty (unintentionally) funny in parts, but not as Madame Bovary. Apart from not being a pale brunette like Mme. B., she looks far too intelligent and alert for that delusional lady.