LOST ILLUSIONS: THE BIRTH OF FAKE NEWS

Pineapples and ducks are all part of the luscious lasciviousness and intrigue in LOST ILLUSIONS, a sumptuous saga of status and smear.

Opening this year’s Alliance Francaise Film Festival heralded the Australian premiere of LOST ILLUSIONS, based on the celebrated novel by Balzac, and now set to enjoy a general release.

Set nearly two centuries ago, LOST ILLUSIONS resonates alarmingly with contemporary concerns with fake news and engineered public opinion. Audiences are transported into the gilded yet treacherous lives of France’s 19th century aristocracy and the scurrilous press that presided at the time.

The press, supposed bastion of truth and free speech is depicted as smear merchants, a corruption of their calling, an oppressive press, where opinion is pinioned by payment. Free speech, as far from free as fear and favour, could be feathered for a few francs, reputations manufactured or destroyed by the power of the purse. The fickle finger of fate is just as fickle when it fetes fame and can suddenly morph into a thumb pointing catastrophically down.

Gorgeously shot and art directed, LOST ILLUSIONS boasts a brilliant ensemble cast including the luminous Cecile de France and Gerard Depardieu, marking his second screen outing in as many months after his astonishing turn as Maigret.

Nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Xavier Giannoli, Best Actor, Benjamin Voison, Best Screenplay by Giannoli and Best Cinematography, Christophe Beaucarne at the 2022 LUMIERE AWARDS, LOST ILLUSIONS is an epic saga of scandal, scuttlebutt, sex and celebrity, pineapples and ducks. The real scandal would be to miss it.

LOST ILLUSIONS – too big for just one festival is now in wider release at Palace Cinemas

SYDNEY

City – Palace Central

Cremorne – Hayden Orpheum

Leichhardt – Palace Norton Street

Paddington – Palace Verona

Rating: M

Run-time: 149 mins

Official trailer (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgBxByrgGj4