It is three years before the revolution, but in Versailles the court of
Louis XVI is only concerned with feasts, appearances and most
importantly, wit. Ponceludon, an ingenious country nobleman has designed a
system to drain the swamps in order to use them as farming land and rid the
countryside of disease. Mathilde, a young scientist is building
prototypes for a underwater diving suit. Both soon realize that their minds
are far ahead of their times and have to choose between compromising to
the rotten core of the ruling class or live up to their principles.
Ponceludon is a man of reason among the god-fearing peasants and
farmers. In order to secure funds to finance his drainage project he must
learn to play the game of wit against the socialites of the court in order
to be noticed by the Dauphin. The beautiful Mathilde, gifted with a
scientific mind must choose between marrying an aging nobleman to finance
her experiments or her true love, Ponceludon.
In the end, reason prevails. The revolution breaks, but wit is not
enough to prevent the blood of the tyrants from running down the
guillotine.
Ridicule, apart from its beautiful cinematography and excellent
performances by its cast, portrays a sense of life rarely seen in american
films. It exposes superstition and mysticism within the first five minutes
and continues to exhalt reason and honesty until the end. It shows the
opposition that the prime movers encounter when surrounded by the
moochers in any time period, but most importantly, it reminds us that
although few and far between, men and women of the mind do exist and that
eventually reason finds reason.
