Raphaël de Valentin is a tormented, hopeless and penniless young aristocrat. An old antique dealer gives him a sorrowful skin that has the power to grant all the wishes of its owner. But he warns him: with each wish granted, the size of the skin will shrink.
Acting
Delsaert's unraveling aristocrat is pure desperation.
Production
Sumptuous decay of 1830s Parisian excess.
Writing
Balzac's cynical prose, mercifully intact.
Director
Michel Favart
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Michel Favart's sole feature film; he spent his career in French television obscurity.
Balzac's 1831 novel invented the cursed object trope later stolen by every monkey's paw story you've ever read.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
FR
