The Mad Women's Ball
{{Infobox film
| name = The Mad Women's Ball
| image = The Mad Women's Ball.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Official poster
| native_name = {{Infobox name module|fr|Le bal des folles}}
| director = Mélanie Laurent
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Alain Goldman
- Axelle Boucaï
}}
| screenplay = {{Plainlist|
- Mélanie Laurent
- Christophe Deslandes
}}
| based_on = {{based on|Le bal des folles|Victoria Mas}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Mélanie Laurent
- Lou de Laâge
- Emmanuelle Bercot
- Benjamin Voisin
- Cédric Kahn
- Grégoire Bonnet
}}
| music = Asaf Avidan
| cinematography = Nicolas Karakatsanis
| editing = Anny Danché
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
}}
| distributor = Amazon Studios
| released = {{Film date|2021|9|12|TIFF|2021|9|17|df=yes}}
| runtime = 121 minutes{{Cite web|url=https://tiff.net/events/the-mad-womens-ball|title = The Mad Women's Ball}}
| country = France
| language = French
| budget =
| gross =
}}
The Mad Women's Ball (French: Le bal des folles) is a 2021 French supernatural thriller film directed by Mélanie Laurent from a screenplay by Laurent and Christophe Deslandes. It is based upon the novel Le bal des folles by Victoria Mas, and stars Laurent, Lou de Laâge, Emmanuelle Bercot, Benjamin Voisin, Cédric Kahn and Grégoire Bonnet.
It had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2021 and was released for streaming on 17 September 2021 by Amazon Studios.{{Cite web |title=Prime Video: Die Tanzenden |url=https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Die-Tanzenden/0OMXPE25Q5FC3V98K37J4M4JU7 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=www.primevideo.com |language=de-de}}
Cast
- Lou de Laâge as Eugénie Cléry
- Mélanie Laurent as Geneviève Gleizes
- Emmanuelle Bercot as Jeanne
- Martine Chevallier as Grand-mère Cléry
- Benjamin Voisin as Théophile Cléry
- Cédric Kahn as François Cléry
- Lomane de Dietrich as Louise
- Christophe Montenez as Jules
- Coralie Russier as Henriette
- Lauréna Thellier as Marguerite
- Martine Schambacher as Thérèse
- Valérie Stroh as Mère Cléry
- André Marcon as Dr. Gleizes
- Grégoire Bonnet as Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot
Production
In January 2020, it was announced that Mélanie Laurent would write and direct a film based upon the novel Le bal des folles by Victoria Mas, with Alain Goldman serving as a producer under his Légende Films banner.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/melanie-laurent-to-write-direct-female-driven-period-thriller-the-mad-womens-ball-1203463076/|title=Melanie Laurent to Write, Direct Female-Driven Period Thriller 'The Mad Women's Ball'|website=Variety|first=Elsa|last=Keslassy|date=10 January 2020|accessdate=16 November 2020}} In June 2020, it was announced that Laurent and Lou de Laâge had joined the cast of the film, with Gaumont Film Company set to distribute the film in France.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/gaumont-melanie-laurents-alain-goldman-period-thriller-the-mad-womens-ball-le-bal-des-folles-1234635340/|title=Gaumont Acquires Melanie Laurent's Period Thriller 'The Mad Women's Ball'|website=Variety|first=Elsa|last=Keslassy|date=15 June 2020|accessdate=16 November 2020}} In November 2020, it was further announced that Emmanuelle Bercot, Benjamin Voisin, Cédric Khan and Grégoire Bonnet had joined the cast of the film, with Amazon Studios distributing worldwide and with Gaumont no longer distributing.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/global/amazon-melanie-laurent-le-bal-des-folles-first-french-original-movie-1234829276/|title=Amazon Sets Melanie Laurent's 'Le Bal Des Folles' as First French Original Movie (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|first=Elsa|last=Keslassy|date=12 November 2020|accessdate=16 November 2020}}
Principal photography began in November 2020.{{cite web|url=https://tv6.news/melanie-laurent-will-direct-le-bal-des-folles-the-first-french-original-film-for-amazon-prime-video/|title=Mélanie Laurent Will Direct Le Bal Des Folles, The First French Original Film For Amazon Prime Video|website=TV6|first=Sophie|last=Middleton|date=13 November 2020|accessdate=16 November 2020|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113095420/https://tv6.news/melanie-laurent-will-direct-le-bal-des-folles-the-first-french-original-film-for-amazon-prime-video/|url-status=dead}}
The soundtrack was composed by Asaf Avidan and performed by Avidan (Piano and Keyboards) and Coleman Itzkoff (Cello).
Release
The Mad Woman's Ball had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2021.{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2021/06/melissa-mccarthy-kenneth-branagh-edgar-wright-toronto-international-film-festival-1234779934/|title=Melissa McCarthy, Kenneth Branagh, Edgar Wright Movies Among First Set For Toronto Film Festival; In-Person Theater And Digital Screenings Planned|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Pete|last=Hammond|date=June 23, 2021|access-date=June 23, 2021}} It was released on Amazon Prime on 17 September 2021.{{cite web|language=fr|url=https://www.premiere.fr/Cinema/News-Cinema/Le-Bal-des-folles--bande-annonce-du-nouveau-film-de-Melanie-Laurent-avec-Lou-de-Laage|title=Le Bal des folles : bande-annonce du nouveau film de Mélanie Laurent, avec Lou de Laâge|website=Premiere|date=22 June 2021|access-date=22 June 2021}}
Reception
{{expand section|reason=add individual reviews from notable critics|date=December 2021}}
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an 85% approval rating based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Its themes are occasionally undercut by its storytelling, but outstanding performances give The Mad Women's Ball a poignant, disturbing power."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_mad_womens_ball |title=The Mad Women's Ball |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=15 December 2021 }} On Metacritic, the film has a rating of 72 out of 100, based on reviews from 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-mad-womens-ball |title=The Mad Women's Ball |website=Metacritic |access-date=15 December 2021 }}
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote: "Contrived and possibly overheated though the film might be at times, there is real storytelling gusto to it, and Laurent punches it across with relish."{{cite web |date=13 September 2021 |author1=Peter Bradshaw |author1-link=Peter Bradshaw |title=The Mad Woman's Ball review – Mélanie Laurent's compelling melodrama |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/sep/12/mad-womans-ball-film-review-melanie-laurent |website=The Guardian }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title}}
{{Mélanie Laurent}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mad Woman's Ball, The}}
Category:French thriller films
Category:Films directed by Mélanie Laurent
Category:Amazon MGM Studios films
Category:Films about medical malpractice
Category:Films set in psychiatric hospitals
Category:Amazon Prime Video original films