Children of the Century

The tempestuous affair between novelist George Sand and dissolute dilettante Alfred de Musset, with whom she embarked on a singularly unhappy trip to Italy early in the 1830s, is the subject of Diane Kurys' extravagant, but musty, old-fashioned period drama. (It doesn't touch on Sand's later relationship with Chopin, which James Lapine handled with a much more jovial air in 1991's Impromptu.) Running well over two hours, Children of the Century is notable for its impressive locations and sumptuous costumes, but--unfortunately--also for its singularly unimaginative and humorless script, and static direction. Juliette Binoche, looking far plainer than usual, makes surprisingly little of Sand (she never seems strong enough to represent the writer's proto-feminist impulses), while Benoit Magimel is almost maniacally broad as the uncontrolled libertine who abuses Sand emotionally and physically. By the time each is begging to see the other "one more time,” viewers will likely be reaching for the remote's “stop” button. Children of the Century--the title is taken from de Musset's roman á clef about their passionate two years together--has a lovely surface, but beneath it beats the heart of a ponderous Harlequin romance that can't be hidden by all the luscious costumes in the world. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)