Cousin Bette

Cousin Bette is set in nineteenth-century Paris, where the title character lives on the edges of a wealthy family that treats her with condescension. Poor, unmarried and overlooked, she watches her beautiful relatives enjoy the comforts she lacks. When a young artist she has rescued from poverty turns his attentions to another woman in the family, her resentment hardens into a plan. She forms an alliance with a courtesan, and together they set about damaging the reputations and fortunes of the men and women who dismissed her.

The film is an adaptation of Honoré de Balzac's novel, directed by Des McAnuff in his feature debut. His only other credited film as director is The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, released two years later, so his cinema work is limited to two features separated by a move toward family comedy. Jessica Lange plays Bette, with Elisabeth Shue as the courtesan Jenny Cadine, Bob Hoskins as Cesar Crevel, Hugh Laurie as Baron Hector Hulot, Kelly Macdonald as Hortense Hulot and Toby Stephens as Victorin Hulot.

Released in June 1998 by Fox Searchlight Pictures, the film took about 1 million dollars worldwide, a modest return. On IMDb it holds 6.2 out of 10 from roughly 3,000 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 5.5 from far fewer voters.