Valmont (film)

Valmont is a 1989 FrenchAmerican drama film directed by Milo Forman and starring Colin Firth, Annette Bening, and Meg Tilly. Based on the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos, and adapted for the screen by JeanClaude Carrire, the film is about a scheming widow who bets her lover that he cannot corrupt a recently married honorable woman. During the process of seducing the married woman, he ends up falling in love with her. Valmont received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design Theodor Pitk.

Angered over the loss of her lover and his slight of her character, Merteuil devises a devious plan of revenge. She approaches her former lover, the Vicomte de Valmont Colin Firth, and proposes that he seduce the virgin Cecile prior to her wedding night when Gercourt will learn he was not the first to arrive. Valmont declines Merteuils request. He is more interested in pursuing Madame de Tourvel Meg Tilly, a beautiful married woman staying at his aunts estate. When the subject of infidelity is introduced, Tourvel insists she would never be unfaithful to her husband who is traveling abroad on business. Merteuil later chides Valmont for his desire for Tourvel and makes him a wager if Valmont succeeds in bedding Madame de Tourvel, he may also bed Merteuil if he fails, he must consign himself to a monastery.After learning that Ceciles music teacher, Danceny Henry Thomas, has been writing love letters to Cecile, Merteuil gains the confidence of the young girl who confesses she loves Danceny. Merteuil then convinces her cousin to allow Cecile to join her in the country while helping Cecile write secret love letters to Danceny. Soon after, Merteuil and Cecile join Valmont at his aunts country estate where Valmont flirts playfully with the innocent young girl. When Merteuil suggests that Valmont help Cecile write a love letter to Danceny, Valmont agrees and ends up taking Ceciles virginity. When Cecile confides in Merteuil about her experience with Valmont, Merteuil encourages her young niece to marry Gercourt and keep Danceny as her lover. ........

Source: Wikipedia