I’m going to discuss a movie called “Valmont.” Madame de Villages and her cousin, the Marquise de Merchwheel, visit a convent for maidens to see the young and charming Cecile Divolange, who sings in the choir and lives a virtuous and pure life as a young girl. Cecile is aware that her mother intends to arrange her marriage and asks Madame Mirthul to find out the name of her future husband. However, Madame de Villages refuses to reveal the name, as it was a request from the future husband himself.
Meanwhile, Madame Mirthul arranges for a socialite widow to take care of Cecile’s upbringing, ensuring that she not only remains innocent but also becomes a wise young woman with proper manners. In the evening, Madame Mirthul takes Cecile to the Opera, where she teaches her proper fan etiquette and behavior. During their outing, they encounter Viscount Valmont, and Cecile keeps her hand in his, prompting Madame Mirthul to caution her against giving a man the opportunity to become too familiar. She advises Cecile to be polite and courteous in her interactions with him but not to create false expectations.
Despite Madame Mirthul’s warnings, Cecile invites Valmont to join them for the Opera, but Madame Mirthul asks him to leave them. She explains that the Viscount is a dangerous man who could harm Cecile’s reputation, and it is crucial to keep him at a distance. Later, Valmont announces his departure from Paris to visit his elderly aunt.
Madame de Rosamund, Cecil is still unsure about the right questions to ask and turns to Murtule for guidance. She asks if the man she met is her lover. That evening, Murtule spends the night with Mansourcort, and when he is about to leave, she inquires when they will meet again. Mansourcort dismisses the question, explaining his busy schedule and lack of availability for future dates.
A few days later, the nobles gather at Madame de Valena’s house for a concert where Cecil will perform and play the harp. Cecil is aware that her fiancé will be among the attendees and asks Murtule to discover his name. To her surprise, Murtule reconnects with her cousin and realizes that the young Cecile’s fiancé is none other than her lover, Durcourt. Durcourt pretends it’s their first meeting, leaving Murtule offended by his deception. She decides to leave the event early.
Meanwhile, Murtule visits the country mansion of the Barons and encounters the elderly Rosamund, who falls asleep during a card game. At the same time, Valmont attempts to woo Madame de Torval, who remains faithfully devoted to her husband. Valmont is occupied with work in another city, and Torval patiently waits for him. During the visit to the Baron and Baroness, Valmont confesses his love to Cecile, but she rejects him. Overwhelmed by this rejection, Valmont throws himself into the water, alarming Torval and her servant, who come to his rescue. Finding Valmont unharmed, Cecile leaves the scene, and Valmont is left to swim back with the help of the servant as he starts to sink.
Upon meeting Valmont again, Murtule proposes that he return to Paris and seduce the young Cecil. She seeks revenge on her former lover, Durcourt, and believes that Valmont, a skilled womanizer, can fulfill the role and become the first man for Cecile. Murtule is convinced that this plan will hurt Durcourt, as he values Cecil’s innocence above all in their future together.
Valmont’s wife is flattered by the offer but ultimately refuses as he is deeply in love with the charming Madame de Torval. During dinner, Murtule decides to instigate an open conversation with the married woman. She subtly hints at Valmont’s affection towards her and observes the girl’s reaction. The Baroness, Murtule, and even old Rosamund admit that they wouldn’t refuse a night with the handsome Valmont if given the chance. However, Torval, being a loyal wife, asserts the importance of decency and fidelity in her marriage. Murtule is surprised that Valmont is attempting to pursue someone as modest as Torval and challenges him to abandon her, claiming he will never spend a night with Torval.
To prove his confidence, Valmont proposes a bet: if he succeeds in his pursuit of Madame de Torval, Murtule must spend the night with him, but if he fails, he will go to a monastery to repent his sins, symbolically covering himself in ashes. Later, when everyone retires to bed, Valmont sneaks into the Baroness’s bedroom to spend the night with her.
A couple of days later, Murtule returns to Paris and meets with Cecile’s mother. The mother is outraged by her daughter’s behavior and reveals that she keeps secrets in her chiffonier. Madame de Volange opens it and discovers letters from Danceny, a man who has been teaching Cecile how to play the harp. Murtule offers her help and communicates with Cecile to confirm the girl’s love for her teacher.
During the next class, as Cecile rushes to the living room to retrieve her letters, Murtule follows her and discovers that she hides the letters in the harp strings, concealing them with a cover. Murtule decides to exploit Cecile’s innocent love for Danceny to sabotage her future marriage to her lover, Durcourt. She assists Cecile in writing a romantic letter to Danceny and assures Cecile’s mother that she knows all the details.
Madame Develingas discovers how the teacher hides letters in the harp and promptly kicks him out of the house, much to her daughter’s dismay. Undeterred, Murtule continues her insidious plan by assisting the couple in maintaining their secret correspondence. She decides to orchestrate a meeting between them, advising Cecil on how to behave and suggesting they run away from home when she and her mother attend the Opera.
As the women leave, the young girl goes on a date with Danceny. Murtule has thought of everything, and her servant aids Cecile in wearing a revealing outfit before discreetly leaving them alone. However, the social aide’s assistant secretly spies on the couple. Instead of spending the night with his beloved, the naive Danceny decides to teach her how to play the harp. Madame De Volanges, feeling compassion for her daughter whom she had confined to the house, rushes home, fearing that their plan may be exposed.
Murtule hurries to Cecile and takes her to the Opera to ensure her mother remains unaware of the rendezvous with the music teacher. Madame De Villages contemplates sending her daughter back to the convent before the wedding day. However, Murtule comes up with a better idea and takes Cecile to the countryside, to the Baron’s estate.
Meanwhile, Valmont continues his attempts to win Madame De Torval’s heart. He invites her on a hunting trip and orchestrates a romantic date in a garden filled with food and musicians playing solely for the two of them. Although touched by the gesture, she remains hesitant to succumb to the charms of an experienced womanizer. Furthermore, Madame De Torval receives an anonymous letter warning her to stay away from Valmont, as he plans to use her as he has done with other women. Valmont is unable to defend himself and abruptly leaves, declaring his sincere feelings for her.
At the same time, in Paris, young Danceny is being selected for Durcourt’s regiment. Unlike the other recruits, he impresses with his swordsmanship skills and earns the respect of Monsieur Durcourt, who is aware that Danceny is set to marry his beloved, Cecil.
The music teacher declines, leaving Valmont to amuse the women in the country house alone. He spends a lot of time with Cecel and plays with her while imitating a duel. Torvill is curious about the man and asks Mercual about him. Mercual responds that Valmont would make a great brother but would not make a good husband after realizing that a married girl is in love with him. Torvill challenges her claims in the evening after dancing despite Mirchul’s invitation for her to go as soon as feasible. Velma reveals that she is in love and that she simply cannot leave because she wants to be with him when Madame de Torvill asks her to her room. Realizing this is improper, she requests that the count leave the estate and leave her alone.
Murtule invites Valmont to assist Cecel in writing a love letter to Destiny. Valmont agrees and accompanies the young girl, dictating the text of the letter. However, at some point, Valmont decides to seduce Cecil and becomes her first lover. Disturbed by the encounter, Cecil rushes to Madame De Murtule and confides in her about what transpired. She is overwhelmed with conflicting emotions and is unsure of what to do.
Murtule proposes a solution where they don’t cancel the marriage and Cecil becomes Durcourt’s wife while carrying on a secret affair with Valmont. In the morning, Madame De Volanges arrives at the Baron’s estate to pick up her daughter.
Cecile is asked her opinion after Valmont interrupts the women’s conversation and accuses her mother of forcing a girl to marry a man who is three times her age. The Nave girl, who believes that this is correct, affirms her readiness to wed Durcourt on the condition that Danseny becomes Durcourt’s wife. This confession incenses her Lover’s mother, who forces her to return to Paris right away.
Upon learning that Madame de Torval has left for Paris, Valmont hastily follows her and ends up at the girl’s house before her arrival. Upon seeing the man she has fallen in love with, Mary Torval cannot resist her desires and spends the night with the womanizer. In the morning, she confesses to him that she wrote and sent her husband a letter of confession, declaring her readiness to serve Valmont in any way. While the girl goes to the market for food, the Viscount flees, leaving a farewell letter. He realizes that he thought he was capable of loving and being with just one person, but he was mistaken.
Upon returning to the Baron’s estate, Valmont meets with Mertul and informs her that he has won the argument and spent the night with Madame de Torval. Mertul refuses to admit defeat, but Valmont insists on his victory, emphasizing that it is a matter of honor. Mertul behaves inappropriately and provokes Valmont’s anger, leading to him declaring war on her and overturning the bath in which she was bathing.
Valmont decides to help Cecil and Danceny by becoming an intermediary in their correspondence. Cecil is willing to write letters, but on the condition that it does not end with intimacy, unlike their previous encounter. On one of these days, Jerkort comes to Cecil to present a necklace and announce their upcoming wedding. Cecil begins to doubt, and Velmont changes his plan. He asks Cecil to confess everything to Danceny and offers him the role of a lover, as suggested by Mertul. The outraged music teacher immediately goes to Valmont, threatening him with his sword and demanding a written letter of apology.
In the evening, Valmont is informed that Madame de Torval is waiting for him. He tells her that the owner is not at home, but she continues to wait. It is raining outside, and Torval is completely wet. Valmont, feeling sympathy and pity for the unfortunate girl, invites her to his house and spends the night with her.
In the morning, Torval runs away, having done the same with Valmont as he did with her. Valmont, having bought flowers, goes to the house of the married girl and sees that her house is in a mess. To his surprise, her husband, who has returned from a business trip, is in the living room. After that, Valmont heads to Madame de Mertul’s house to apologize and reconcile. Both of them are strong personalities who are better off being friends than fighting. Madame de Mertul understands this as well and even confesses her feelings to Velmont. However, it soon becomes clear that she is just playing with him. It turns out that Mertul told Danceny that Valmont had become Cecil’s first lover. She did this to spend the night with Danceny. Valmont is disappointed and hits Mertul in the face because she is destroying the happiness of the couple in love.
In an attempt to salvage the situation, Valmont buys inconspicuous men’s clothing and hurries to Madame de Valanges’ house. The servant does not let him in, but Valmont showers him with silver coins to prevent any interference. He offers Cecil to change clothes and run away. However, it turns out that Valmont arrived earlier and informed Cecil about everything. Cecil is not ready to run away and decides to become the wife of Danceny since Danceny betrayed her and his feelings for her. A minute later, Madame de Villages also appears in the room and asks Valmont to leave her house once and for all.
Upon returning home, Valmont meets Danceny’s second, who inform him that Danceny has challenged him to a duel and is waiting for a meeting. The tension continues to rise, and the story takes an even more dramatic turn.
At night, Valmont goes to the nearest tavern and hires three drunkards to be his second for the upcoming duel. In the morning, he arrives at the meeting place drunk, which causes indignation from Danceny. Danceny refuses to fight with a drunken man, considering it beneath his dignity. The music teacher invites Valmont to ask for forgiveness and promises to accept the apology. Valmont is outraged by these words because he believes he did everything he could to help the lovers and sees no need to repent for his actions.
In a fit of anger, Valmont attacks Danceny and his temporary seconds. The situation quickly spirals out of control, resulting in a fight. Tragically, the young music teacher kills Valmont.
A couple of days later, the funeral of the notorious womanizer takes place, attended by all the women who have spent the night with him, except for Madame de Torval. Among the mourners, Cecil cries more than the others and confesses to the elderly Madame de Rosamund that she is expecting a child from Valmont. The next day, Cecil becomes the wife of Danceny at the Royal Court. Madame de Mertul remains alone, looking at others with envy as they have found their partners while she has not.
Madame de Torval, accompanied by her husband, visits Valmont’s grave to bid farewell to the man she loved. And with this, the movie comes to an end, leaving us with a mix of emotions and reflections on the complexities of love and the consequences of our actions.
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