MovieChat Forums > La veuve de Saint-Pierre (2001) Discussion > Was Pauline (Madame La) in love with Aug...

Was Pauline (Madame La) in love with Auguste?

posted 18 years ago by luism1fan
15 replies | jump to latest

I know Madame La was deeply in love with her husband but I couldn’t understand why she was so upset that Auguste was getting married. In the scene she left the weeding crying.

Thanks

[–] krzyfrssw 18 years ago

I asked myself that same question, and I believe that Pauline was, to an extent, in love with Auguste. But, I think that the reason she was so upset when he married Jeane-Marie, was because he was going to be executed, leaving Jeane-Marie a widow, not because he was marrying another woman. We both agree that Pauline was very much in love with her husband, and the love Pauline and Auguste shared was not that of an ill nature, but one that expressed the connection between them.

[–] luism1fan 18 years ago

Thanks you for your reply, the scene makes more sense to me now.

[–] krzyfrssw 18 years ago

You're welcome. :)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] balakumar-dec 10 years ago

Can someone help me with this please. We just saw the movie yesterday and its been haunting us ever since. The fact that both of them were so in love with each other and that the captain was executed was just heart breaking.

I did some googling and found out that the incident happened in 1888 instead of 1849 and that Neel was eventually executed by a new resident of the colony. But nothing is mentioned with regards to the fate of the Captain and his wife. Can you help ? I was unable to start a new post on this subject, hence replying to your message.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] hitomi69 9 years ago

The Neel story was “re-imagined” — nigh rewritten — for the heavily fictionalized 2000 Juliette Binoche film La Veuve de St. Pierre.

[–] zuluf 17 years ago

Well put, that is what I understood from that scene as well.

[–] mac_alain 16 years ago

I agree with krzyfrssw's take on the relationship.

A beautiful thought provoking film: 9/10

[–] Tony10 18 years ago

I believe that she was crying after hearing the part of the wedding vow, "till death do you part", because at that point it looked like he was heading for the chop shortly. She probably felt bad (in the movie) for both the man and the woman as it was to be a short lived marriage at that point.

That was my take on/of that particular portion at least.

[–] krzyfrssw 17 years ago

Which is what I said, Tony10, just not in those words =)

[–] aorourke55 17 years ago

I agree with posts above.

Also, I think her relationship to Neel is much more maternal than romantic.

[–] ilovetrees2005 17 years ago

Go to Roger Ebert's (the film reviewer) website. He explains this scene very well.

[–] lostto 15 years ago

Good question...exactly the one I'd hoped to see discussed after re-watching this movie tonight. I have always been slightly confused by the combination of this scene and a couple of others: the one where she asks Auguste why he does everything she asks...the obvious answer is that he's a prisoner and has no choice. Or was it meant to imply he had feelings about her that could not be said? ...and then later in the movie when he looks at her obviously infatuated while she's teaching him to read. Then with her reaction to the wedding, I'd always wondered if it was implying there was more to the feelings Madame La and Auguste had for one another. I think I agree with the other responses you got, and I feel much more free to enjoy the rest of this movie without that nagging doubt buzzing about in the back of my head!! Thanks for posting the question!!

[–] makeuplover69 13 years ago

I was convinced she was in love with Neel when she cried and his door. She just stood there staring at him and then cried and kissed his hand. My immediate thought was her husband better not see that.
" Benny, you silly great fat article"