Marquis (film)

Marquis

German poster
Directed by Henri Xhonneux
Produced by Claudie Ossard
Eric van Beuren
Written by Marquis de Sade (writings)
Roland Topor
Henri Xhonneux
Starring François Marthouret (voice)
Valérie Kling (voice)
Michel Robin (voice)
Isabelle Wolfe (voice)
Vicky Messica (voice)
René Lebrun (voice)
Music by Reinhardt Wagner
Cinematography Étienne Fauduet
Editing by Chantal Hymans
Studio Aligator Producciones
Tchin Tchin Productions
Distributed by Netherlands: Cor Koppies Filmverhuur
USA: YC Alligator Film
Release date(s) 26 April 1989 (1989-04-26) (France)
Running time 88 minutes
Country Belgium
France
Language French

Marquis is a 1989 French-language film, produced in Belgium and France, based on the life and writings of the Marquis de Sade. All the actors wear animal masks, and their voices are dubbed. There are a few scenes involving clay animation.

The tagline used in the US release was, "A bizarre tale of sex, lust, and the French Revolution."

Plot

In pre-revolutionary France, the canine Marquis de Sade sits in jail working on his writing and having conversations with his penis which has a face and is named Colin. When Colin is not whining about his need for stimulation and espousing his impulsive philosophies, he is "telling stories" that make up the Marquis' work (some of which is illustrated via clay animation).

The Marquis was imprisoned for allegedly defecating on a cross, however he is also accused of raping and impregnating the bovine Justine. The latter is a plot by the camel-headed priest Don Pompero and the cocky Gaetan De Preaubois try to keep secret the fact that Justine's rapist was actually the King of France.

Meanwhile, the revolutionaries prepare to stage a coup and depose the king. Several of the inmates are also political prisoners leading to several failed escape attempts which land the inmates in the Bastille dungeon. They are eventually freed, however, by the revolutionaries.

Colin runs away with one of the revolutionaries leaving the Marquise to continue his writing and to muse about his life in peace.

Voices

Character Voice of:
Marquis de Sade François Marthouret
Colin Valérie Kling
Ambert Michel Robin
Justine Isabelle Wolfe
Don Pompero Vicky Messica
Gaetan De Preaubois René Lebrun

External links