Blanche (1971)

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Based on Juliusz Slowacki’s 19th-century play Mazepa but relocated to 13th-century France, Blanche tells the story of the beautiful young wife of a nobleman many decades older. As innocent as her name suggests, Blanche becomes the unwilling centre of attention in a power struggle between her husband, the visiting King and his page, the latter a notorious womaniser. Its unique visual style resembles a medieval fresco, and its period-instruments soundtrack, adapting the ancient ‘Carmina Burana’ song book, was years ahead of its time.