"Ridicule": Patrice Leconte

France

Saturday, 9:15 p.m., Sunday, 3:15 p.m.

After a few lackluster years, the French filmmakers are back with a string of gems, including Patrice Leconte's "Ridicule." It's a lush and ironic costume drama (think "Liaisons Dangereuses" and "The Madness of King George") with a surprisingly contemporary feel.

"Ridicule" is set in 1780 in the cynical court of Louis XVI, where wit was the measure of the man. Gregoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling), an engineer descended from provincial nobility, has come to plead with the king to finance the draining of the swamps on behalf of the peasants on his estate, who are dying from malaria and other diseases.

"Be witty, sharp, and malicious and you'll succeed," he is told upon arrival at the court. "Wit opens every door." And ridicule means a failure so devastating that it can drive a man to suicide.

Against his own principles, Gregoire joins the court at Versailles in playing at humiliating word games. Before long he has bested the best of them, the preening Abbot de Vilecourt (Bernard Giraudeau), and bedded Madame de Blayac, the powerful and seductive older woman (Fanny Ardant) who has the king's ear. But love plays havoc with his plans.

Gregoire is smitten with Mathilde (Judith Godreche), a rebellious young woman with a scientific bent (she invents an underwater diving suit). When she falls in love with Gregoire, she refuses to marry the wealthy older man who could finance her research. To win her, and fulfill his own altruistic side, Gregoire must risk . . . you guessed it . . . ridicule.