Jefferson in Paris

1995

Action / Biography / Drama / History / Romance

8
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 31% · 16 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 35% · 1K ratings
IMDb Rating 5.7/10 10 3308 3.3K

ambassador france paris, france revolution biography versailles

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Plot summary

His wife having recently died, Thomas Jefferson accepts the post of United States ambassador to pre-revolutionary France, though he finds it difficult to adjust to life in a country where the aristocracy subjugates an increasingly restless peasantry. In Paris, he becomes smitten with cultured artist Maria Cosway, but, when his daughter visits from Virginia accompanied by her attractive slave, Sally Hemings, Jefferson's attentions are diverted.

Director

James Ivory Photo
James Ivory

Top cast

Todd Boyce Photo
Todd Boyce as William Short
Nancy Marchand Photo
Nancy Marchand as Madame Abbesse
Vincent Cassel Photo
Vincent Cassel as Camille Desmoulins
Thandie Newton Photo
Thandie Newton as Sally Hemings
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
1.25 GB
1280*688
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 19 min
Seeds ...
2.32 GB
1904*1024
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 19 min
Seeds 3

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by MRavenwood 5 / 10

Tedious as being there yourself

It is documented that John Adams, second President to the United States, loathed Parisian excess and found the endless gossip, parading, and parties to be a bore. Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, it is reported, liked Paris much better, and had a reputation of being more of a dandy than is portrayed in this film. Not only is 35% or more of the movie's dialogue in untranslated French, that is, without subtitle either, but the endless tedium of the suffocating excesses of 17th century France are too accutely conveyed. I found Nick Nolte uncompelling and Gwynneth Paltrow's performance doesn't seem like it was fully captured, somehow. The costuming is beautiful and particular attention seems to have been invested in hair and wig styling history. As far as the story goes, though, I kept wondering what Jefferson saw in either his European love interest, or in Sally Hemmings that drove him into the arms of either of them. The accents of all the actors just don't work for me. I didn't buy it that Sally Hemmings would have such a pronounced country accent after living exclusively with Jefferson and his immediate family for such a time, if anything, she would have picked up a French lilt to her speech.
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Reviewed by oneillrobyn 6 / 10

Just one bit of information

Jefferson promised to his wife on her deathbed that he would never marry again. It turns out that Sally Hemings and Jefferson's wife were half-sisters ... they had the same father. It has been noted that Jefferson's older daughter knew of the relationship but of course it wasn't discussed in their presumably polite household. I just got a tape (that's the only format available today) and I haven't looked at it yet. Since I saw the film only when it was released, and I've learned a lot about Jefferson since then, I'm looking forward to finding free time to just sit and watch. I'll be back and possibly change my rating, but I remember wishing for a more dynamic actor to play Jefferson.

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