Le Comte de Monte-Cristo

In 1844, Alexandre Dumas published his voluminous novel Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, according to A.F.Th. van der Heijden ‘the most compelling book ever written about revenge in world literature’. The novel was a huge hit and still is. First filmed in 1908, 116 years later directors Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte transformed the book into a beautiful and spectacular costume drama starring Pierre Niney.

On his wedding day, of all days, young Edmond Dantès is arrested on suspicion of espionage. These charges are unjustified, but he is nevertheless locked up in the dungeons of Chateau d'If near Marseille. After spending 14 years there, he manages to escape and travels to the island of Montecristo, where he finds a great treasure. With his newfound wealth, he returns to Paris as the Count of Monte-Cristo, determined to take revenge on the three men who did all this to him at the time.