Product Description: Based on the novel by Marion Meade, this costume drama retelling of the doomed 12th century romance of Abelard and Heloise was directed by Clive Donner. Abelard (Derek de Lint) is a philosophy professor at the cathedral school of Notre Dame. Considered the greatest teacher in Paris at a time when professors of philosophy are required to be chaste, Abelard is a champion of reason and a man of the people. Despite what it could mean to his career and standing, however, Abelard falls in love with a student, Heloise (Kim Thomson), an upper class teenage girl raised in a convent and possessing an insatiably curious intellect, along with a rebellious attitude toward the second-class status of women in her society. When word of the relationship begins to filter out, Heloise's ambitious uncle Fulbert (Denholm Elliott), who had hoped to marry her off to a wealthy gentlemen, schemes to end the romance, as does the bishop of Paris (Bernard Hepton).
historical romance Enchanting 12th century Parisian history filmed in Yugoslavia. Steamy sex scenes make watching with anyone you are not intimate with (like parents or mixed AA group) an experience. Portuguese box disc is in English and has the bonus of "My Life" with Michael Keaton on the backside (also an excellent movie). Bon apetite.
Terrific for mature adults The 12th century love letters of Abelard and Heloise are among the treasures of literature. This film explores the historical figures and says little of their love letters per se. The photography is beautiful, the acting is excellent, the sound is good. Their love affair as presented here in a romanticized version is ten times more tragic than the story of Romeo and Juliette. The more historically accurate story was pretty darned tragic in any event.
The film is quite moving but it is definitely for a very mature audience. This is because the "adult themes" involve a lot of talking about the nature of God and morality based on tradition in the context of a carnal love affair that is made to seem pure in the film. Their love affair is graphically carnal, but it is sort of Platonic in the sense that the emphasis is on the irresistible union of two remarkable souls. Two brilliant people are inexorably drawn together in flesh and mind under impossible conditions. Abelard is the most respected teacher of philosophy in all of France and has taken a vow of chastity. He betrays his vows and the hospitality of his host and seduces his beautiful daughter. Finally they marry in secret.
His host is a wealthy merchant and Canon of the Church who profits from selling false relics etc. He is very competitive and ambitious and is in very tight with the Church hierarchy. He is outraged that Abelard has tricked him and violated his hospitality and even though they have married he has the philosopher castrated. There is also the very, very strong implication that the uncle thinks of Heloise as a piece of property (she IS his property legally) that he had intended to use to make political/commercial allies. Abelard has stolen his property.
Abelard feels great spiritual remorse for breaking his vows and retreats to a Monastery and talks Heloise into joining a convent and after this they communicate primarily by the famous letters.
I would not call this an anti-religious film, but some may see it that way because Abelard's vows and religious remorse do stand in the way of their love and of being together. Some might see it as very pro-religious because of the seriousness with which Abelard takes his vows and need to repent. I would say that the film merely lays out the issues for mature people to ponder.
I have a 115 minute version from Brazil that is in the original English language but with optional Portuguese and Spanish subtitles. It says ALL regions and NTSC and plays perfectly on my US DVD player. It has been renamed Em Nome de Deus, which is a better title for the film in my opinion.
I have read that some VHS versions are a cheat and were sold without telling the customers that some footage had been butchered out -- false advertising in any other industry. I suspect that this Brazilian DVD is honest. Obvious scenes to hack out would have been sexual and the ones in this DVD seem pretty graphic to me. Full frontal and all the bumping and grinding.
Perhaps I should add that in my opinion the sex is not gratuitous but just makes the love affair more realistically hot and steamy and not primarily "Platonic." I don't think they overdo the sex, and certainly if you are looking more for titillation than romance this is not the film for you.
Let me also add that the real historical relationship between these two is less clear than it is in the film. Eventually Abelard wrote that his love had been lust. It is not clear to what extent it really was, though, or if this was the selective memory of a tortured soul preoccupied with repentance and getting into heaven. Probably that can never be sorted out. I would say just sit back and enjoy this excellent film for what it is and wait for a rainy day if you are one (like me!) who likes to ruminate on various psychological and historical ins and outs.
Buyer beware This version is advertised as "all regions" but it's actually the Region 4 Brazilian DVD. It will not play in US DVD players. Until there's a US DVD, you're better off looking for the uncut VHS version.
A classic forbidden love story .... Considering this is a true story, its an even greater tragedy knowing so. The story of young Heloise meeting her soul partner in mature and established Abelard whose career as a philosopher and teacher requires him to be celibate in life makes this forbidden love so heart wrenching to watch. Their obstacles were those even ahead of their time with an out of wedlock pregnancy and escaping the "evil uncle" who when discovers this affair had begun under his own roof takes matters into a wicked extreme which changes the outcome of this love affair. Such a hard movie to find on the market, but for the die hard romantics out there its worth every minute to watch. The actors are so convincing in their roles it just makes you wonder ;) If you ever go to Paris, Abelard and Heloise are buried together (according to legend) in the famous cemetery Cimetière du Père Lachaise. Young lovers leave flowers on their tomb in commemoration of such a beautiful and tragic love.
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