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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Movies about revenge and morality like Les Dames du bois de Boulogne

Stories where meticulous schemes of vengeance lead to unexpected emotional consequences.If you liked the calculated revenge and moral complexity of Les Dames du bois de Boulogne, explore these other films. This list features similar stories of manipulation, deception, and the heavy emotional fallout that follows a meticulously planned vengeance.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a clear, often linear path: a perceived wrong ignites a desire for revenge, leading to a methodical and deceptive plan. The plot unfolds with a focus on the psychological manipulation involved, building towards a climax where the emotional and moral consequences for all characters come starkly into view, frequently resulting in an ambiguous or bittersweet resolution.

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Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on revenge as a central plot driver, their exploration of moral ambiguity, and the heavy emotional weight that accompanies the manipulation of others. They share a dark, somber tone and a deliberate pacing that allows the psychological tension to simmer.

Slow burn melancholic dramas like Les Dames du bois de Boulogne

Character-driven stories where a quiet, melancholic mood builds into profound emotional impact.For viewers who appreciated the slow, somber, and anxious mood of Les Dames du bois de Boulogne, this list highlights similar movies. Discover other character-driven dramas with a deliberate pace, a claustrophobic or melancholic atmosphere, and stories that carry a significant emotional weight.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread unfold patiently, prioritizing character psychology and atmospheric tension over fast-moving plots. The emotional journey is central, often involving themes of regret, trapped circumstances, or fragile relationships. The slow pacing amplifies a sense of unease or sorrow, leading to a climax that is emotionally potent rather than explosively action-oriented.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their slow pacing, which creates a specific, immersive mood of melancholy and anxiety. They share a heavy emotional weight and a focus on the psychological dimensions of their characters, often set within confined social or physical spaces that enhance the claustrophobic and somber vibe.

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Les Dames du bois de Boulogne Summary

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Les Dames du bois de Boulogne Summary

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Les Dames du bois de Boulogne Timeline

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