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The project seduces French, German and Italian co-producers. These, happy with Monte-Cristo, participate again in the adventure. Then comes the time of the adaptation. The problem proves to be of size: the life of Balzac (1799-1850) resembles his novels, where the schemings collide and characters abound. With such a format (two episodes for a total of four hours), it proves impossible to relate the youth of the writer or of his ascension. In fact, the movie begins when the author of "The Human Comedy" agonizes [over the writing of it]. Then follows a long flashback on the past eleven years of his life. With, in red thread manner, his passion of women, of his mother, for whom he feels a deep hatred, through his numerous conquests. According to Josée Dayan, "Balzac remains the author of the Ninteenth century that has written best on them [women] and that has best understood their psychology. Besides, women are the origin of his worldly success." In spite of a less than ideal physique, the young writer seduces by the energy that he gives off.
In fact, Balzac fell short with only one person: his mother, Charlotte-Laure, who never liked him. To Eve Hanska, his future wife, Balzac will write: "If you knew what woman is my mother: a monster and a monstrosity altogether." Charlotte-Laure, a good bourgeois, doesn't accept her son's choice of an artist's career. Throughout their life, their relationship will be that of a creditor with his debtor: Balzac enjoys the existence that he lives above his means. Harassed by the bailiffs, he humiliates himself while begging money from his mother.
"I immediately thought about Jeanne Moreau for the role," confides Josée Dayan. Decoin makes of her a specter constantly spying on her son. It is only upon the death of Honoré that Charlotte-Laure will finally recognize his talent. This mother, Balzac looks for her in the women that he likes. Besides, he is thirsty for recognition. His first conquests answer this double requirement. First he meets Laure de Berny (Virna Lisi) in 1822, she is twenty-two years older than him. "Balzac, he is a Casanova who searched for women of the retirement age rather than the lolitas!" esteemed Didier Decoin. "There is maybe a kind of unconscious incest desire."
The cornerstone of Balzac's history of love, Mrs. Hanska is part of the national literary heritage. After sixteen years of an epistolary link [of writing letters], the Polish countess and the writer finally meet and get married, two years before the death of Balzac. It is Fanny Ardant that lends her beauty to this last love.
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