Sade

At 50, Sade (Daniel Auteuil) has spent most of his life in unsanitary and dangerous prisons like the Bastille and Saint-Lazare. But he hasn't become hardened and bitter. Instead, he's rather wise, crafty, and very sexy. When he's sent to Picpus, the exclusive, aristocratic, convent-turned-prison, and meets the haughty, blossoming Emilie (Isild Le Besco) he has the opportunity to share his enlightenment. But Sade must be careful. Although Emilie is curious about what Sade can offer her, she is a feisty lass and is wary because of the rumors of Sade's scandalous past. Soon, though, the would-be lovers have bigger problems to attend to--Robespierre, his Cult of the Supreme Being, and the bloodiest phase of the Terror. Sade's mistress, Sensible (Marianne Denicourt), has been keeping them at bay by giving herself to Fournier (Grégoire Colin), a member of Robespierre's entourage. But how long will that ploy hold them back? And whose head will roll next? (official distributor synopsis)