Fanny Ardant Movies
An elegant brunette with strong, striking features, actress Fanny Ardant has been touted by at least one publication as France's answer to Katharine Hepburn. Since first gaining international attention in her starring role opposite Gérard Depardieu in François Truffaut's La Femme d'à côté (1981), Ardant has become recognized as one of France's most popular and well-respected actresses.The daughter of a calvary officer, Ardant was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, on March 22, 1949. She grew up in Monaco, where her father's position allowed the family to be on familiar terms with the royal household. After an upbringing marked by frequent visits with Princess Grace, Ardant relocated to Aix-en-Provence to study political science. Her interests gradually turned toward acting, and after taking drama classes from Jean Périmony, she made her professional debut in a 1974 stage production of Corneille's Polyeucte.
Ardant's first dose of acclaim came with her performance in the made-for-TV drama Les dames de la côte (1979). Shortly thereafter, she began her association with Truffaut, which would lead to both excellent work in La Femme d'à côté and Vivement dimanche! (1983) and a relationship that lasted until Truffaut's death in 1984 and produced one daughter, Joséphine.
Ardant's work continued to flourish after Truffaut's death, and she cemented her reputation with serious, passionate roles in a number of dramatic films. She did particularly strong work in Un amour de Swann (1984), Le Colonel Chabert (1994), Ridicule (1996) -- which featured her in a delightfully nasty turn as the acidic noblewoman Madame de Blayac -- and Gabriel Aghion's Pédale douce (1996), a broad comedy in which Ardant's uncharacteristic comic turn won her the 1997 Best Actress César. Ardant again explored her humorous side for Aghion in his Le Libertin (2000), co-starring alongside such well-respected colleagues as Vincent Pérez, Michel Serrault, and Josiane Balasko.
Ardant has also maintained a career on the stage, appearing in productions of Strindberg's Miss Julie, Molière's Don Juan, and Roman Polanski's highly praised 1997 adaptation of Master Class, which featured the actress as Maria Callas. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- 2009
A filmmaker is attempting to complete an ambitious project in the midst of a family tragedy in this self-referential drama from writer and director Tsai Ming-Liang. Hsaio-Kong (Lee Kang-Sheng) is a director from Taiwan who is soon to begin shooting his next picture, a stylized adaptation of Salome, in France, though first he has to help his elderly mother (Lu Yi-Ching) with some plumbing problems. Hsaio-Kong arrives in Paris to discover his producers have cast a well-known model with no acting experience (Laetitia Casta) in the leading role, which adds to the challenge of working in a language in which he's not fluent and having a leading man (Jean-Pierre Leaud) who seems to have lost his memory. Hsaio-Kong's troubles with the shoot are at once exacerbated and made insignificant when he learns of the death of his mother. Featuring guest appearances from Fanny Ardant, Nathalie Baye and Jeanne Moreau, Face was an official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Laetitia Casta, (more)
- 2009
A woman's presence at a family wedding opens old wounds and resurrects long-simmering tensions between two warring clans in this drama from director Fanny Ardant. Ten years ago, Judith's husband was murdered. In the aftermath of the crime, she and her three children were exiled. Today they live in Marseille. Judith has her fair share of secrets, but they're only part of the reason she's never returned to visit her family. When Judith receives an invitation to her cousin's wedding, she accepts at the behest of her children, who are eager to explore their roots and meet their estranged relatives. But spending a summer in the country won't be any picnic for Judith, because the closer the wedding gets, the more obvious it becomes that the rising tensions aren't about to break anytime soon. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ronit Elkabetz, Abraham Belaga, (more)
Director/screenwriter Vincenzo Marra crafts this tale of an unscrupulous civil servant who rises through the ranks to become a powerful businessman, only to see his empire buckle when the mistakes of the past catch up with him. Filippo Costa (Michele Lastella) began his career in the lower ranks of the Guardia di Finanza (an arm of the Italian military police which operates under the ministry of economy and finance), though it didn't take long for the ambitious worker to catch the attention of his superiors. A stiff and attentive worker who was following in the footsteps of his father, Filippo is sent on a high-profile audit when he unearths a collection of false invoices evidence of undocumented workers. Subsequently approached with a bribe by the owner of the business, Filippo makes a decision that will determine the trajectory of his entire career. Before long, Filippo is successfully working his way up the latter with remarkable speed. While a nasty break-up with his girlfriend initially throws him for a loop, Filippo is soon able to focus entirely on his career. But a new love is about to come into Filippo's life in the form of radiant, independent art-gallery owner Caterina (Fanny Ardant). Now, just as Filippo's connections begin to pay off and he starts to reap the rewards of living the high life, he is about to discover that his reach has exceeded his grasp. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michele Lastella, Fanny Ardant, (more)
Within the Orthodox Jewish Community, the attitudes toward females have remained virtually unchanged for 2,000 years. In this religious-themed drama, accomplished Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher explores the complications that arise when the relationships between a group of women residing in a midrasha (all female seminary) in Safed turn suddenly volatile. Every girl has a different motivation for enrolling in the midrasha: for Naomi (Ania Bukstein) enrollment in the seminary meant avoiding a marriage that she didn't want, and for the rebellious Michelle (Michal Shtamler) it was simply an effective means for her parents to keep her out of serious trouble. Unlikely allies at first, Naomi and Michelle soon forge a powerful bond that is later threatened by the ailing Anouk (Fanny Ardant). Anouk is a much older woman who has come to Safed in search of redemption. Despite her outward sincerity, however, Anouk is quickly turned away by the powers that be. Realizing that the brilliant Naomi can certainly find the kabbalistic texts that could restore Anouk's purity, compassionate Michelle volunteers her scholarly friend to help the desperate woman in her time of need. While her initial hesitation is soon compounded by the fact that the head mistress forbids both students from any further contact with the mysterious Anouk, Naomi selflessly vows to expunge the sins of Anouk's past even if it means putting her own future at risk. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Ania Bukstein, (more)
- 2006
From writer/director Richard LaGravanese (Freedom Writers) comes this sexually tinged short film about a middle-aged married couple. Pigalle stars Bob Hoskins and Fanny Ardant and is part of Paris, Je T'Aime the star-studded tribute to the City of Lights. Other directors contributing to the anthology film include Wes Craven, the Coen Brothers, and Walter Salles. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hoskins, Fanny Ardant, (more)
A middle-aged woman fears that her husband is cheating on her -- and chooses a very unlikely method for verifying her paranoia -- in this psychological drama from the writer of Une Liaison Pornographique. Catherine (Fanny Ardant) is a successful Parisian gynecologist whose long-term marriage to Bernard (Gérard Depardieu) has been passionless as of late. When she checks his cell phone messages one afternoon, she discovers a suggestive "thank you" from a young colleague of his, which creates an even wider chasm between the two. Desperate, Catherine goes to an upscale strip club nearby to solicit the services of Nathalie (Emmanuelle Béart), a matter-of-fact prostitute. It seems Catherine wants Nathalie to seduce Bernard and report back to her each week, an assignment that's initially off-putting to the young woman, but one she begins to relish as the weeks pass. Soon, Nathalie is using intimate details to fuel Catherine's rage toward her husband. Nathalie... had its gala North American premiere at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Béart, (more)
Two lost souls make a pact to lift each other up and provide the support needed to kick their bad habits and take one last shot at living their dreams in this introspective drama starring Fanny Ardant and Rochdy Zem. Nina (Ardent) is an unemployed actress who has just taken a lethal overdose of tranquilizers. Stumbling though the streets of Paris in a deathly haze, Nina collapses into unconsciousness. Fortunately for Nina, lonely Algerian Sami (Zem) happened to jog by at just the right time. But as soon as Sami previously appeared, he vanishes back into the blackness of night, leaving the recovered Nina with no one to thank for saving her life. Determined to let her guardian angel know just how thankful she truly is, Nina discovers that Sami was once a promising long-distance runner whose dreams of Olympic stardom had been dashed, and who now scrapes by as a transvestite prostitute. Realizing that they've both hit rock bottom, Nina and Sami make a pledge to support one another to the point where they can both get clean and pursue their dreams before it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Roschdy Zem, (more)
- 2000
A young boy and his two grandmothers flee from headhunters and other villainous types in the Brazilian rain forest in this wacky family adventure. Benjamin (David-Alexandre Parquier), whose mom is dead and whose dad is off in the jungle searching for gold, is more cool-headed than his two grandmothers, both of whom hate one another. Upper class teacher (Fanny Ardant) bristles at the coarse behavior of working class Suzanne (Josiane Balasko), who shoplifts and cheats at cards. Soon bad guys threaten them, and the chase begins. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josiane Balasko, Fanny Ardant, (more)
- 2000
Gabriel Aghion directs this bawdy period romp about a day in the life of 18th century philosopher and sensualist Denis Diderot (Vincent Perez), who produced the first ever encyclopedia while living a life of delicious decadence. Though the Church immediately banned Diderot's opus, which they deemed to be a compendium of forbidden knowledge, copies continued to circulate. Diderot, along with his wife (Francoise Lepine) and daughter, are staying in the country estate of the Baron and Baroness d'Holbach -- who put a pair of illegal printing presses and a legion of typesetters in a chamber beneath the family altar. At the same time that the Church sends a grumpy Cardinal (Michel Serrault) to ferret out the clandestine press, comely Madame Therbouche (Fanny Ardant) shows up to paint Diderot's portrait. While Diderot occupies himself with his artist friend, the Baroness keeps the Cardinal occupied with her laundry list of sordid confessions. Naughty fun soon ensues. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Josiane Balasko, (more)
- 1999
This French romantic comedy-drama concerns Claude Langmann (Claude Berri, who is also the director) a middle-aged auctioneer who is in a loving marriage with his second wife of 15 years. Though he is deeply in love with his wife and has remained faithful to her, he finds himself unable to perform in bed. His wife says she is satisfied with Claude's love and tenderness, but he visits a sex specialist anyway. There he learns of Viagra, which is not yet approved in France, though it is available in Switzerland over the counter. Soon Claude is on his way to Geneva, and eager to prove his manhood, tries to bed Agnes, his very attractive and very available assistant. His daughter, who also comes along for the trip, interferes with her own problems. La Debandade is a lightly funny, touching looking at male sexuality during life's later years. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claude Berri, Fanny Ardant, (more)
Gérard Depardieu stars as the great French author Honoré de Balzac in this historical biography produced for French television. Balzac's childhood is marked by a difficult relationship with his mother, Charlotte-Laure (Jeanne Moreau), whose strident criticism and inability to show affection are not abated when he reaches adulthood. Balzac begins to gain the confidence he needs through his relationship with a wealthy society matron, Madame de Berney (Virna Lisi), but in time he abandons her when he falls in love with Countess Eva Hanska (Fanny Ardent), who already has a husband. When Madame de Berney dies, Balzac is filled with remorse, and his sorrow inspires him to create some of his greatest work; his writing finally gains the acceptance of the mass audience, and Balzac achieves the fame and wealth he's always wanted. However, Balzac's spending soon begins to outstrip his income, and his new celebrity begins to wane when critics respond coolly to his work. Balzac received its American premiere on the Bravo cable television network. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Depardieu, Jeanne Moreau, (more)
- 1998
This complexly plotted comedy interweaves snippets from the lives of nearly 40 diverse patrons sitting at 14 tables in a little Italian trattoria. Though the diners come from all levels of society, most are bound by one or two common threads: their engagement in illicit romantic affairs and the fact that they are, for the most part, morally and spiritually bankrupt. The restaurant's unflappable, wise owner Flora (Fanny Ardant) is the only one with any real common sense. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1996
A closeted gay man's attempts to "act straight" for the sake of his job have unexpected consequences in this French comedy. Adrien (Patrick Timsit) is a businessman who is trying to close a major deal with Alexandre (Richard Berry), a powerful banker. Alexandre invites Adrien to attend an upcoming dinner party at his estate; Adrien doesn't want to scotch the deal by saying no, but he would also prefer that macho Alexandre not know that he's gay, a secret he's kept from most of his business associates. Adrien persuades his friend Eva (Fanny Ardant), the proprietor of a popular gay nightspot, to pose as his date for the evening, and her no-nonsense attitude and broad humor score a big hit with Alexandre, who becomes infatuated with her. On the sly from his wife Marie (Michele Laroque), Alexandre begins calling on Eva at her restaurant; Alexandre is a bit puzzled by her clientele, while Eva begins to wonder if he might be gay. Fanny Ardant's performance won her a Cesar Award (the French Oscar) as Best Actress of 1996. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Timsit, Fanny Ardant, (more)
- 1995
The many ways in which men are fascinated, compelled, and confused by their attraction to women are explored in this four part drama. As a filmmaker (John Malkovich) tries to sort out his plans for his next film, he considers several stories about women and the men who love them. Silvano (Kim Rossi Stuart) meets Carmen (Ines Sastre) and immediately asks her for a date, but despite his attraction, he can't follow through on his feelings for her. The director spies a woman on the streets (Sophie Marceau) and follows her obsessively, but when he finally meets her, he's disappointed, despite their mutual physical attraction. Roberto (Peter Weller) and his wife Patricia (Fanny Ardant) have to deal with their anger about each other's infidelities, as well as their problems with their lovers, Olga (Chiara Caselli) and Carlo (Jean Reno). And Niccolo (Vincent Perez) falls in love at first sight with a young woman (Irene Jacob), unaware that she is studying to become a nun. Par-Dela Les Nuages was Michelangelo Antonioni's first film after a massive stroke derailed his directorial career in 1985; Wim Wenders served as his collaborator on the project. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Malkovich, Kim Rossi Stuart, (more)
This homage to the cinema by venerated movie-maker Agnes Varda, often dubbed the "grandmother" of the French New Wave, features an all-star international cast. The story is based upon the memories and insights of the 100-year old Mr. Simon Cinema. He lives in a magnificent house filled with movie memorabilia. To help him remember the important details of his career he hires Camille, a film student to write down his remembrances and experiences which have involved all areas of movie-making. Camille comes once a day for 101 days. Film clips, photographs and actual visitors highlight his stories. As he continues to spin his yarns, the imagery in the film smoothly morph into other images. Camille, when not recording, is involved in other exploits including a romance with a production assistant, Mica who aspires to becoming a director. She also begins plotting a way to get to Mr. Cinema's fortune by having a friend pose as his long lost heir. Many other characters are peripherally involved including Death, an Italian seeking the rights to his film catalogue, and a memory specialist. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Piccoli, Marcello Mastroianni, (more)
- 1994
This metaphorical drama, about the changes brought to French society by revolution, stars Gérard Depardieu as Chabert, a French soldier who served under Napoleon in 1807 and was thought to have died in battle. In fact, Chabert was nearly buried in a mass grave with a large number of deceased soldiers, but he managed to crawl from the pile of corpses and has been wandering through the French countryside ever since. In the ten years since his "death," Chabert's wife (Fanny Ardant) has spent his fortune and gone on to marry Count Ferraud (Andre Dussolier), which has made her a woman of wealth and power. When Chabert, now a lumbering tramp, confronts the Countess, she refuses to admit that he was once her husband, and Chabert takes her to court to recover his money and property. Colonel Chabert was based on a novella by Honoré de Balzac, and it marked the directorial debut of Yves Angelo, previously one of France's top cinematographers. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Depardieu, Fanny Ardant, (more)
- 1993
Nina (Fanny Ardant) is a French concert pianist, Ilan (Sharon Alexander) is an Israeli computer specialist visiting Paris. A romance springs up between them, and they get married. Not long afterward, Ilan is called into the Israeli army to serve his obligatory tour of duty. Things are heating up with Saddam Hussein (it is just before the Gulf War), who has just invaded Kuwait. Nina receives a call from the military informing her that her husband was wounded in combat. She rushes to his side and soon discovers that he was wounded by Israeli soldiers while he was in the process of deserting his post. It is clear from his own zombie-fied behavior that this allegation is true. Despite this horrifying revelation, she still loves him, but becomes increasingly estranged from the society around her because she feels shunned. On top of all this, she must soon make her concert debut with the Israel Philharmonic. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Sharon Alexander, (more)
- 1993
Whenever people are released from their society's constraints, there is the possibility that they will behave badly, at least according to the rules of the society they have left behind. This seems to have been particularly the case for Europeans living in colonial establishments in Africa and Asia. In this drama, based on a story by Stefan Zweig, Dr. Steiner (Andrzej Seweryn) was caught with his fingers in the till at a German hospital. Rather than prosecute him, they gave him the option of emigrating elsewhere. He chose to serve at a clinic in a remote part of Portuguese Goa. He has been on his best behavior for years, but when the beautiful wife (Fanny Ardant) of a diplomat comes to him asking for an abortion, he is tempted to ask for sexual favors in return, and his life swiftly goes out of control. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Andrzej Seweryn, (more)
- 1991
Reviewers declared that the main attraction of this romantic drama was the chance to see the ever-elegant Fanny Ardent in action as a well-to-do woman who wants to put her life in better order. Muriel (Ardent) is married to a philandering publisher, who quite openly entertains mistresses. Meanwhile, her son will soon be old enough to leave the nest. The mainstay of her rather empty (but very well-dressed) life is her coffee klatches with her girlfriends. Not to be outdone by her husband, she has a lover too. Thinking to arrange for a divorce, she hires a private investigator to document her infidelities. However, when she confronts her husband with them, he is completely unfazed and merely appreciates them as an example of her enterprising ways. Despite its thin storyline, this was a well-regarded first feature for director Paule Muret. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Alain Bashung, (more)
- 1989
Writer/director Tony Gatlif tells an offbeat tale about a romance between two people living on the fringes of the film world who have difficulty distinguishing between movies and real life. Fred Lary (Remi Martin) is the son of a movie starlet, whose one great role before she committed suicide was in a film directed by Baronski (Jean Pierre Sentier). Fred visits Baronski to learn all he can about those final days. After he reveals that he is the starlet's son, the director leaves him alone with his wife Roxanne (Fanny Ardant), a minor film star whose career is on the wane. The remainder of the film concerns the romance which develops between the two. Gatlif previously displayed his gift for romantic storytelling in the 1982 film about Gypsy life Les Princes. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Jean-Pierre Sentier, (more)
- 1989
Widower Edouard Pierson (Jeremy Irons) fought for Australia in World War Two, but he was born (and married) in Belgium. For the past twelve years, he has been living in Australia with his daughter. His occupation as a wool merchant is in keeping with his family's tradition. He is determined to remain in Australia, and is equally determined to keep his daughter (Danielle Lyttleton) from learning much about her mother, whom she never knew. Nonetheless, when his brother (Tcheky Karyo) calls urgently from Belgium, requesting his help in saving the family's business there, he returns to his hometown of Verviers. In addition to saving the family business, he comes to have second thoughts about returning to Australia after he has a brief affair with a Belgian woman (Fanny Ardant). Meanwhile, his daughter has made contact with her grandmother (Helene Surgere), and is beginning to learn about her mother. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons, (more)
