Valmont (film)

Valmont is a 1989 period drama film directed by Miloš Forman. It is based on the 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos and is a retelling of the story focusing on the manipulative games of seduction and betrayal played by the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont.

The film stars Colin Firth as the Vicomte de Valmont and Annette Bening as the Marquise de Merteuil. Other notable cast members include Meg Tilly as Madame de Tourvel, and Fairuza Balk as Cécile de Volanges.

Valmont offers a different interpretation of the source material compared to other adaptations like Dangerous Liaisons (1988). While both films cover the same plot, Forman’s Valmont adopts a lighter, more comedic tone, focusing on the humor and absurdity of the aristocratic lifestyle and the characters' schemes. This contrasts with the more overtly dramatic and tragic approach taken by Stephen Frears in Dangerous Liaisons.

Valmont was not as commercially successful as Dangerous Liaisons upon its release, and critical reception was mixed, with some critics appreciating Forman's lighter touch and others preferring the darker, more intense interpretation of the story. Despite this, Valmont remains a notable adaptation of Les Liaisons dangereuses and offers a unique perspective on the classic tale of seduction and manipulation.