Barbey the diabolical

November 2nd 2008 will mark the bicentenary of the birth of a French artist, Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly, a mysterious and provocative writer who is relatively unknown. This film invites us to take a trip in time to the art of the romantic era, a period that was particularly fascinating for literature. Often criticized an even ostracized by literary critics of his days, Barbey d’Aurevilly was an author who clashed with his times. An aristocrat in revolt or a simple agitator, he was as little known in his days as he was liked. His works however have survived time. Who was this agitator, this marginal writer who delighted in revealing that the most darker aspects of the lives of those around him ? In this documentary, French film-maker Catherine Breillat is interviewed and speaks about her recent adaptation of one of Barbey’s books : entitled “Une vieille maîtresse” (“An old mistress”). French actress Anouk Aimée also evokes her performance of Alberte in Alexandre Astruc’s 1952 adaptation of Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly : “Le rideau cramoisi” (“The burnt curtain”) from the author collection : “Les Diaboliques” (“The diabolical”).