Les Dames du bois de Boulogne

Les Dames du bois de Boulogne

Year: 1945

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: French

Director: Robert Bresson

RomanceDrama

A love story that follows the maneuverings of a society lady as she connives to initiate a scandalous affair between her aristocratic ex-lover and a prostitute.

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Timeline & Setting – Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (1945)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (1945). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Bois de Boulogne, Paris, Hélène's apartment, cabarets/nightclubs

Bois de Boulogne is a famed public park on the western edge of Paris, known for promenades and leisure. In the film it serves as the social stage where Agnès and Jean's meeting is arranged and observed by Hélène. The story also moves to intimate spaces like Hélène's apartment and the cabarets that define Agnès's world, highlighting the contrast between public appearances and private desperation.

🌳 Park 🗼 Paris setting 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

Main Characters – Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (1945)

Meet the key characters of Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (1945), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Hélène (María Casares)

A calculating socialite who engineers the trap that drives the plot. She feigns compassion to manipulate Jean and reveal the desired truth, revealing a cold, controlling side that elevates appearances over genuine affection.

🎭 Drama 💔 Jealousy 🧠 Manipulation

Agnès (Élina Labourdette)

A cabaret dancer with aspirations of becoming a ballerina, Agnès is vulnerable to poverty and exploitation. Her past is used as a weapon, and she navigates a treacherous social circle while trying to protect her mother and preserve her own life.

💃 Dancer 🎭 Drama 💔 Vulnerability

Jean (Paul Bernard)

The young man drawn to Hélène and later entangled with Agnès. He is idealistic and trusting, caught between desire and social manipulation, and his actions catalyze the tragedy that unfolds.

💘 Romance 🎭 Drama 💔 Betrayal

Mme. D (Lucienne Bogaert)

Agnès's mother, poor and anxious to protect her daughter. She represents the vulnerable, working-class side of Paris and highlights the pressures that push Agnès into a dangerous arrangement.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family 💔 Struggle 🛡️ Protection

La bonne (Yvette Etiévant)

A maid in the social circle who represents the domestic sphere within the Paris setting. Her presence highlights the class differences at play and the private world behind appearances.

🧹 Domestic 🎭 Drama 👀 Observation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

Major Themes – Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (1945)

Explore the central themes of Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (1945), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Revenge

A central thread follows how love can be weaponized when trust is broken. Hélène crafts an elaborate trap to ruin Jean and Agnès by turning appearance into reality. The narrative uses calculated manipulation and social reputation to extract a painful outcome, showing revenge as a corrosive force.

🎭 Deception

Deception drives the plot as truth is masked by lies about Agnès's background and the couple's intentions. Characters rely on rumors and surface impressions rather than facts. The film examines how easily trust can be exploited when social labels and reputations are at stake.

💔 Love and Consequences

Romantic longing collides with moral choices and social status. Jean's infatuation, Agnès's vulnerability, and Hélène's cold calculation force outcomes that challenge loyalty. The story ends with emotional consequences for all involved, underscoring how love can be both fragile and transformative.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:43

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Les Dames du bois de Boulogne Summary

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Les Dames du bois de Boulogne Summary

Les Dames du bois de Boulogne Timeline

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Les Dames du bois de Boulogne Timeline

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