User reviews

Usually made-for-TV biographies of artists are pretty silly: there's just too much concern to get all the major works mentioned without taking care also to bring the person to life. I did enjoy Drach's Maupassant, with a terrific Claude Brasseur, and now I've seen Josee Dayan's Balzac and like it a lot.

The actors tear into their parts with such gusto. Depardieu is really feeling his way through the part, and his lover in life as well as in this film, Fanny Ardant, does a great job as Eve Hanska. Virna Lisi as his first lover Mme de Berny was very touching; she knew she couldn't hold on to him forever, given that she was two decades older than Balzac. Jeanne Moreau has got a froggy old woman's voice now, and she uses it to great effect. The lack of any great love between mother and son comes out in their scenes.

"Balzac", the 200 minute French TV docudrama, cannot portray Balzac the man with fidelity and be any more interesting than the man himself. And, judging from this film, Balzac was not all that interesting as historical characters go. Though the series beautifully represents 19th century France with perfection in costuming, sets, locations, props, etc. and Depardieu turns in a solid performance as the title character, the teleplay spends most of its time buried in the minutia of Balzac's many relationships with women to the exclusions of countless other aspects of his life and times. A "must see" for anyone interested in life of the classical novelist, "Balzac" is not likely to be a satisfying watch for those interested in the period piece solely for entertainment. (B)

This is one of my favorite Gerard Depardieau movies. All his charms are displayed -- plus a GREAT story!!! I really LOVED Jeanne Moreau in this film -- so beautiful in her mature age that it gave me a new view of how beautiful women can be even when old (which was a huge one for me).

I never knew the story of Balzac's life before and this was a delightful way to learn about him. It made me want to read about him now and read his books.

One warning: if you are sound-sensitive as I am, I find that listening to voice-over in English to RUIN the film ENTIRELY...! I do not understand French at all, but I love to listen to the French as I read the English subtitles. It was a huge disappointment to me when I purchased a DVD of this film on eBay only to discover that listening in French was not even an option!! I cannot bear to listen to Gerard's voice being voiced over and must only watch it now in silence with subtitles until I manage to find a copy with FRENCH soundtrack. That language is truly like music to my ears and is at least nearly half the "art" of this film in my opinion!!

Wonderful drama, romance, scandal, inspiration, laughter and tears in this wonderful, wonderful film. I have it a 10 as it is one of the FEW films I liked enough to actually purchase!!

A beautiful cast makes a beautiful film! I recommend looking for this one...I do understand French but even if I didn't, I'm sure this would still be a most enjoyable movie. Acting by Fanny Ardant was especially magnificant. I give this 8/10

It has been a few years since I saw this film on A&E (I believe). Being a Balzac aficionado and having read a couple of biographies I was quite interested in a biopic treatment of this fascinating individual. The advance advertisement with a naked faced Gerard Depardieu dampened my enthusiasm. When I finally saw it I couldn't believe how a great opportunity could be blown in such a monumental way. The screenplay was actually fairly decent as I recall and stuck fairly close to the facts as I understood them. However, the desire for a major star in the lead role, while in itself not a bad thing, led to a major blot in this production's effectiveness. Gerard Depardieu is about as far from Honore de Balzac as Robert De Niro is from Mark Twain. He is large and tall and there was no attempt to add any facial hair, which Balzac had in every painting as well as the famous daguerreotype. This casting misfire belongs right up there with Hugh O'Brien as Wyatt Earp and John Wayne as Genghis Khan. I'm sure there must be other decent French actors who look, or could look with a little makeup, at least somewhat like Balzac. This is too bad. Who knows when an attempt like this will ever be made again?

Great movie, and great acting! Gerard Depardieu is convincing as usual, and Fanny Ardant is superb! She looks incredibly gorgeous in this movie. I don't speak very good French, but I still find this TV movie very entertaining to watch.

I love Gerard Depardieu. The man works ALL the time, and he is one of the most gifted actors in the history of cinema and theatre. However, I just couldn't watch all of this mini-series. It was too painful. Yes, geniuses and artists can be difficult to live with--as Picasso's many wives and mistresses can attest. But Balzac just seemed to be a JERK! I know that some of it he couldn't help--such as having a mother who blew hot and cold (mostly cold)--but everyone here either was a manipulator or an enabler. Balzac's behavior was like that of an alcoholic or compulsive gambler: so sure that this time things were really going to come together, and wheedling people out of desperation, promising the moon and the stars, only to revert back to his old ways when yet another crisis was averted. Having lived with a man like him more than a decade ago, this one brought back too many bad memories for me to finish it on the second night, when I hear that Fanny Ardent gave a memorable performance. I tried to tell myself, "this is Gerard playing a character," but in this case, he almost succeeded too well.

To the producers' credit, the set, costumes, and photography were beautiful. And I did think it was a very clever "inside joke" for them to include dialogue about Balzac's book "Colonel Chabert"--which was made into a movie starring Mr. Depardieu several years ago. It's just that Balzac, unlike Edmond Dantesor or even Georges from "Green Card," is just not at all the type of character I could muster up any sympathy or empathy for. It will not stop me from seeing what Gerard and Josee Dayan do next. I'm looking forward to Les Miserables already:)

it is an useful introduction to Balzac universe. it is a splendid meeting with great actors in brilliant roles. it is occasion to remind a history who seduces generation by generation. in same measure, it is one of Depardieu movies and this fact is important to discover the metamorphose of a literary legend in a character who preserves the force and the charm, the vulnerability and the sins of original. Balzac by Depardieu is passionate , strange and idealistic. it is a character so it can be different, original, unrealistic. important is just the manner to explore his life. to remind his extraordinary work. to seem identify pieces of reality. that is all. and the presence of Jeanne Moreau, the special manner to create a beautiful sketch for madame Hanska by Fanny Ardant are the real virtues of this film about a hero of universal culture.

it is not a surprise. but the right film about Balzac. smart because it does not gives a statue. seductive because Depardieu - who could be , in admirable manner, each great hero -, has the chance in this film to work with the best partners. especially, off course, Fanny Ardant who gives the most inspired countess Hanska who you imagine. it is a memorable film for the grace who translates a life. for the precision of nuances. for cinematography, for the flavor of period, for the impressive story of a man and his women, his art and his vulnerability. a film who must see. not for discover Balzac. but for an useful kick to read, again, his work.