Rapt (film)

Rapt
Film poster
Directed by Lucas Belvaux
Produced by Patrick Sobelman
Diana Elbaum
Sébastien Delloye
Written by Lucas Belvaux
Starring Yvan Attal
Music by Riccardo Del Fra
Cinematography Pierre Milon
Edited by Danielle Anezin
Distributed by Diaphana Films
Release date
  • 18 November 2009 (2009-11-18) (France)
  • 9 December 2009 (2009-12-09) (Belgium)
Running time
 125 minutes
Country France
Belgium
Language French
Budget €5.5 million
Box office $5.5 million[1]

Rapt is a 2009 French-Belgian dramatic film directed by Lucas Belvaux and starring Yvan Attal. It was nominated for 4 César Awards in 2010, including Best Film. It was released in France on 18 November 2009.

The film is inspired by the true story of the kidnapping of Édouard-Jean, 3rd Baron Empain, a very wealthy Hungarian-born Belgian aristocrat, which occurred in Paris in January 1978.[2]

Plot

Stanislas, a wealthy and high-profile businessman, is kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers amputate one of his fingers and send it to his business with their demands for 50 million euros. His family comes into conflict with the police and his corporate associates as they struggle to raise the money. His business associates refuse to pay the ransom from corporate funds, but will loan the amount he will be able to repay, 20 million. Stanislas is kept in darkness, unwashed, with little food, repeatedly made to write desperate notes to his family.

Details of his mistresses and gambling losses emerge in the media. His wife, Francoise, and teenage daughters are traumatized. His business colleagues use it as an opportunity to turn against him. His mother rebukes his wife for not meeting his needs at home. The family refuses to cooperate with the police. When they try to deliver the ransom, police surveillance disrupts the exchange. After two months, the kidnappers arrange for another exchange. The family is now cooperating with the police, who again disrupt the exchange but take one of the criminals into custody. The kidnappers devise a new scheme. They release Stanislas after he agrees that he will secretly pay them off. They will enforce the agreement by killing a random person and tying the death to his failure to pay.

Stanislas is released to his distraught wife and two daughters who demand explanations for his affairs and gambling, for what they have suffered during his captivity. Only his dog is happy to see him. His business associates explain his reputation prohibits his return and when he refuses to resign tell him he will be removed. The authorities suspect that he arranged his own kidnapping to pay off his gambling debts and forces him to submit to questioning. Meeting with his attorney, he signs papers selling his shares in the business and postpones discussion of his divorce. His attorney advises him to relaunch his life, wealthy and unattached. In his mail he receives the kidnappers' note that he prepare to pay the agreed upon ransom.[3]

Cast

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 97%, based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10.[4] On Metacritic the film has a score of 71 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[5]

Accolades

Award / Film Festival Category Recipients and nominees Result
César Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Director Lucas Belvaux Nominated
Best Actor Yvan Attal Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Anne Consigny Nominated
Lumières Awards Best Actor Yvan Attal Nominated

References

  1. ↑ JP. "Rapt (2009)- JPBox-Office".
  2. ↑ (in French) Le baron Empain : « Tout sonne vrai » de Christophe Cornevin, Le Figaro, 13 November 2009.
  3. ↑ French, Philip (18 July 2010). "Rapt Film Review". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Rapt (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  5. ↑ "Rapt". Metacritic.
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