Search - Triumph of Love on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Nudity, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 10/29/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Comedy, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Comedy of Errors

A beautiful princess (Mira Sorvino) whose throne is threatened falls in love at first sight with the rightful heir to the throne, a lonely young man named Agis (Jay Rodan), in Clare Peploe's romantic comedy Triumph of Love. The film was adapted from an 18th century play by Marivaux. Peploe's husband, Bernardo Bertolucci, co-wrote the script and produced the film, which was shot, mostly handheld, on 16 mm. Sorvino plays a princess whose father murdered the father of Agis and took his power. Her enemies are preparing to correct that historical wrong, but when the princess boldly investigates, she finds herself smitten with the handsome Agis. Agis has been raised by a vainglorious philosopher, Hermocrates (Ben Kingsley), who kept Agis secluded on his estate for his own safety. Hermocrates has furthermore sternly taught Agis that romance and love are the downfall of the intellectual, and that women in general are not to be trusted. Hermocrates also has a retiring spinster sister, Leontine (Fiona Shaw of Harry Potter), who conducts science experiments in her spare time. The princess, accompanied by her faithful handmaiden, Hermidas (Rachael Stirling, the daughter of actress Diana Rigg), disguises herself as a male philosophy student, Phocion, in order to infiltrate Hermocrates' household. She plans to both revenge herself on her enemies, and win the hand of Agis, uniting her kingdom. In this guise, she befriends the naïve Agis and seduces the fragile Leontine. Hermocrates, however, immediately recognizes her true gender. Still, she manages to appeal to his gigantic ego, explaining that she's madly in love with him, and believes that only his genius can show her the wrongfulness of that state. As the threads of her plan chaotically and comically come together, the princess finds herself haunted by her own conscience. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Mira Sorvino - The princess/Phocion/Aspasie
Ben Kingsley - Hermocrates
Fiona Shaw - Leontine
Jay Rodan - Agis
Ignazio Oliva - Harlequin

Clare Peploe's costume romance Triumph of Love comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of the film. English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo. English subtitles are accessible. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, making it difficult to recommend this Paramount release to anyone other than a genre enthusiast. The DVD does have strong sound and picture quality. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide