''Sentimental Destinies'' () is a 2000 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Olivier Assayas Olivier Assayas (; born 25 January 1955) is a French film director, screenwriter and film critic. Assayas is known for his eclectic filmography, consisting of slow-burning Period Piece Films, period pieces, psychological thrillers, neo-noirs, an ...

. Running from the 1890s to the 1930s, the film tells the story of two wealthy

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

families in the south-west of France: the Pommerels who make cognac and the Barnerys who make porcelain. It was entered into the

2000 Cannes Film Festival The 53rd Cannes Film Festival took place from 14 to 25 May 2000. French filmmaker Luc Besson was the Jury President for the main competition. Virginie Ledoyen was the mistress of ceremonies. Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier won the ''Palme d'Or'' ...

Plot

Uninterested in the pottery business, Jean Barnery is ordained as a

pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...

and marries Nathalie, a woman quite unsuited to the role. When her behaviour with another man excites comment, he sends her and their daughter Aline away with an allowance. When people start commenting that it is worse for a pastor to have a separated wife open to any mischief, he brings her back to the marital home. Then he meets Pauline Pommerel and loses his heart to her. He divorces Nathalie, gives up his calling, marries Pauline, and they move to a rural chalet in Switzerland, where they have a son they name Max. Though the three live simply on income from Jean's shares and are very happy together, as a divorced and unemployed ex-pastor Jean is despised in the conservative local community. The Barnery business is faltering, and none of the next generation have the clout to run it. When Jean is sounded out, he immediately accepts to be managing director with a mandate to innovate. Pauline is miserable, knowing that being at the top of any business is tough and that a family business is tougher still, but loyally goes along with his choice. Come the 1914 War, Jean takes no advantage of exemption for health, though weakened by tuberculosis, and serves throughout at the front, while Pauline nurses wounded soldiers. Come the peace, he tries to improve quality and efficiency at the factory and to expand sales in the USA, but profits remain elusive and labour relations tense. While young Max seems on the way to playing a role in the business, his daughter Aline goes off the rails with smoking, drinking, dancing, and staying out all night. Then, in a volte-face, the young woman accepts ordination as a Protestant

deaconess The ministry of a deaconess is a ministry for women in some Protestant, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox churches to provide pastoral care, especially for other women, and which may carry a liturgical role. The word comes from the Greek ...

. The 1929 Slump makes things far worse. Showing an American visitor round the works, Jean has a fall and from then on is confined to his bed, where he eventually dies. In his last moments, he confesses to Pauline that most of his life's effort was in vain and that the one true thing was his love for her.

Cast

Emmanuelle Béart Emmanuelle Béart (born 14 August 1963)
''Tecinema.jeuxactu.com''. Retrieved 21 April 2020. is a F ...

as Pauline Pommerel * Charles Berling as Jean Barnery *

Isabelle Huppert Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (; born 16 March 1953) is a French actress. Known for her portrayals of cold, austere women devoid of morality, she is considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation. With 16 nominations and two win ...

as Nathalie Barnery *

Olivier Perrier Olivier Perrier (born 15 September 1940) is a French actor. He appeared in more than forty films since 1972. Selected filmography References External links * 1940 births Living people French male film actors {{France-film-acto ...

as Philippe Pommerel * Dominique Reymond as Julie Desca *

André Marcon André Marcon (born 6 July 1948) is a French actor. In 1980 he starred in '' Le Voyage en douce'' directed by Michel Deville. Selected filmography * '' Le Voyage en douce'' (1980) * '' Stolen Life'' (1998) * '' Peau d'Ange'' (2002) * '' The P ...

as Paul Desca * Alexandra London as Louise Desca *

Julie Depardieu Julie Marion Depardieu (born 18 June 1973) is a French actress who has appeared in a number of successful films. Early life Born 18 June 1973 in Boulogne-Billancourt, she is the daughter of Gérard and Élisabeth Depardieu and the sister of the ...

as Marcelle *

Louis-Do de Lencquesaing Louis-Do de Lencquesaing (born 25 December 1963) is a French actor and film director. He has a daughter with cinematographer Caroline Champetier, the actress Alice de Lencquesaing. Filmography As an actor *''Les dernières heures du milléna ...

as Arthur Pommerel *

Valérie Bonneton Valérie Bonneton (born 5 April 1970) is a French actress. Life and career Bonneton was born in Somain, Nord department. Her father was an insurance salesman and her mother a housewife. She grew up in neighbouring Aniche and fell in love ...

as Arthur Pommerel's wife * Pascal Bongard as Vouzelles *

Didier Flamand Didier Flamand (born 12 March 1947) is a French actor and theatre director. He has appeared in more than 200 films and television shows since 1973. He starred in Raúl Ruiz's 1978 film '' The Suspended Vocation''. Theater Filmography Actor ...

as Guy Barnery * Jean-Baptiste Malartre as Frédéric Barnery * Nicolas Pignon as Bavouzet *

Catherine Mouchet Catherine Mouchet (born 21 August 1959) is a French actress. She studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, following the courses of Jacques Lassalle and Claude Régy. Her performance in the film '' Thérèse'', directed by Alain Cavalier, won he ...

as Fernande *

Mia Hansen-Løve Mia Hansen-Løve (born 5 February 1981) is a French film director, screenwriter, and former actress. She has won several accolades for her work. Her first feature film, '' All Is Forgiven'', won the Louis Delluc Prize for Best First Film in 2007 ...

as Aline

Production

Principal photography began from 2 August 1999 to 20 November 1999.

Reception

The film opened in fifth place at the French box office for the week ended 18 July 2000 with a gross of $914,658 from 152,443 admissions in its opening week.

References

External links