Though this interesting film was among many responsible for the critical success of French
autuer Robert Bresson, it was by no means a commercial success. Slightly different than his other films, director
Bresson utilized the contrasty photography of
Philippe Agostini (
Sylvie et le Fantome,
Monde du Silence) and chose professional actors
Paul Bernard (
Lumiere D'ete),
Maria Casares (
Enfants du Paradis), and
Elina Labourdette (
Shanghai Drama) to star rather than non-professionals.
With dialogue written by writer/filmmaker
Jean Cocteau,
Les Dames du Bois du Boulogne was adapted to the screen by
Bresson from an interpolated anecdote in Diderot's Jacques Le Fatalist.
Casares plays Helene, a passionate but self-controlled woman who is seething after her lover Jean (
Bernard) confesses he no longer loves her. Driven by revenge, Helene engineers a plan to attack Jean via Agnes (
Labourdette), the woman he truly loves, and Anges' mother (
Lucienne Bogaert).
