Valmont: Was Madame de Tourvel really that naive?
Okay, so I just rewatched "Valmont" (1989) and I'm still kinda hung up on Madame de Tourvel. I mean, Annette Bening plays her SO well, all virtuous and innocent… but is she really as clueless as the movie wants us to believe? Especially considering the setting – 18th century France was hardly a bastion of moral purity for the upper crust, right? You'd think she'd have a better idea of what Valmont was really about from the start. My theory is that she knew exactly what she was getting into, at least on some level. She's obviously attracted to Valmont, even before he starts his full-on seduction campaign. Remember that awkward dinner scene where they first meet? She keeps glancing at him! And while she protests his advances, there's a longing in her eyes that just doesn't scream "innocent virgin." Maybe she liked the idea of being corrupted, of testing her own morality. Like a forbidden fruit kinda thing. I think she played the 'naive virtuous woman' card strategically. It gave her power, forcing Valmont to work harder and making her the object of his obsession. Plus, it allowed her to maintain a semblance of social respectability while indulging in a dangerous flirtation, or at least until the inevitable happened. Maybe it was all subconscious, but I don't buy the total victim act. What do you guys think? Am I way off base here? I could be, it's been a long week lol. And tbh, if I was living in a huge French castle and Guillaume Depardieu was trying to get with me, I'd probably crumble too. Just sayin' 🤷♀️
Comments (5)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!