The Story of Adele H. movie storyline. In 1863, a young Frenchwoman arrives alone in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is referring to herself by different names depending upon to whom she is speaking, but primarily she is going by the name Adèle Lewly. She is looking for an Albert Pinson, a British lieutenant stationed there. Again, she tells different people different stories of her relationship to Pinson and why she is looking for him.
In reality, she is Adèle Hugo, the only surviving daughter of famed French poet and political activist Victor Hugo. She is looking for Pinson, a former lover, with whom she is obsessed. The womanizing Pinson admits to once loving Adèle, but has now moved on to other conquests. His disreputable past, specifically a gambling problem which has resulted in debt, was the reason that M. Hugo would not consent to Adèle ever marrying Pinson.
In Halifax, Adèle spends her time either stalking Pinson, dreaming of Pinson or writing in her journal about her feelings concerning her love for him. To others in Halifax, Adèle is a captivating woman, especially to Mr. Whistler, the book store owner who is attracted to her. But Pinson wants nothing to do with her, especially as she takes more and more extraordinary measures to get what she wants. Her obsession slowly descends into utter madness.
The Story of Adèle H. (French: L’Histoire d’Adèle H.) is a 1975 French historical drama film directed by François Truffaut, and starring Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, and Sylvia Marriott. Written by Truffaut, Jean Gruault, and Suzanne Schiffman, the film is about Adèle Hugo, the daughter of writer Victor Hugo, whose obsessive unrequited love for a military officer leads to her downfall. The story is based on Adèle Hugo’s diaries. It was filmed on location in Guernsey, and Senegal.
20-year-old Isabelle Adjani received much critical acclaim for her performance as Hugo, garnering an Oscar nomination making her the youngest Best Actress nominee ever at the time. The Story of Adèle H. also won the National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Language Film, the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics Award for Best Film, and the Cartagena Film Festival Special Critics Award.
Most of the exterior scenes were shot on location in Guernsey, Channel Islands. Many of the film extras were well-known locals. Both Sir Raymond Falla and Sir Cecil de Sausmarez were, at the time, prominent island politicians. Scenes set in Halifax were mainly interiors created in a house in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. None of the scenes were filmed in Halifax. The Barbados scenes were shot on the island of Goree off Senegal.
As was his custom, Truffaut fell for his leading lady during the shoot. However Adjani rebuffed his advances. She did not like to rehearse and filming in Guernsey was an intense emotional experience for most of the crew. Truffaut later wrote to a friend:
You mention the pleasure I must have directing Isabelle A. It’s the opposite of pleasure, it’s daily suffering for me, and almost an agony for her. For her profession is her religion, and because of that our shoot is a trial for everyone. It would be too easy to say she is difficult, she is not. She is different from all the women in this profession and since she isn’t even 20, add to all this (to her genius, let’s not be afraid of words), an unawareness of others and their vulnerability, which creates an unbelievable tension. The film was shot in English and French versions.
Awards and Nominations
Academy Awards (US)
Nominated: Best Actress – Leading Role (Isabelle Adjani)
César Awards (France)
Nominated: Best Actress – Leading Role (Isabelle Adjani)
Nominated: Best Director (François Truffaut)
Nominated: Best Production Design (Jean-Pierre Kohut-Svelko)
David di Donatello Awards (Italy)
Won: Best Foreign Actress (Isabelle Adjani; tied with Glenda Jackson for Hedda)
French Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Won: Best Film
National Board of Review (US)
Won: Best Actress – Leading Role (Isabelle Adjani)
Won: Best Foreign Language Film
National Society of Film Critics (US)
Won: Best Actress – Leading Role (Isabelle Adjani)
New York Film Critics (US)
Won: Best Actress – Leading Role (Isabelle Adjani)
Won: Best Screenplay (Jean Gruault, Suzanne Schiffman and François Truffaut)
The Story of Adele H. (1975)
Directed by: François Truffaut
Starring: Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, Sylvia Marriott, Joseph Blatchley, Ivry Gitlis, Louise Bourdet, Cecil De Sausmarez, Ruben Dorey, Clive Gillingham, Jean-Pierre Leursse
Screenplay by: François Truffaut, Jean Gruault, Suzanne Schiffman, Frances Vernor Guille
Production Design by: Jean-Pierre Kohut-Svelko
Cinematography by: Nestor Almendros
Film Editing by: Yann Dedet
Costume Design by: Jacqueline Guyot
Makeup Department: Chantal Durpoix, Thi-Loan Nguyen
Music by: Maurice Jaubert
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: United Artists (France), New World Pictures (US)
Release Date: October 8, 1975 (France)
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