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Heloïse et Abélard

Original title: Stealing Heaven
  • 1988
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
863
YOUR RATING
Heloïse et Abélard (1988)
DramaHistoryRomance

In medieval Paris, a young religious scholar and the beautiful niece of a local patrician fall madly in love and consummate their passion for each other. In the religious uproar that follows... Read allIn medieval Paris, a young religious scholar and the beautiful niece of a local patrician fall madly in love and consummate their passion for each other. In the religious uproar that follows, they are condemned and brutally punished.In medieval Paris, a young religious scholar and the beautiful niece of a local patrician fall madly in love and consummate their passion for each other. In the religious uproar that follows, they are condemned and brutally punished.

  • Director
    • Clive Donner
  • Writers
    • Chris Bryant
    • Marion Meade
  • Stars
    • Derek de Lint
    • Kim Thomson
    • Denholm Elliott
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    863
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Clive Donner
    • Writers
      • Chris Bryant
      • Marion Meade
    • Stars
      • Derek de Lint
      • Kim Thomson
      • Denholm Elliott
    • 12User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast31

    Edit
    Derek de Lint
    Derek de Lint
    • Abelard
    Kim Thomson
    Kim Thomson
    • Heloise
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • Fulbert
    Bernard Hepton
    Bernard Hepton
    • Bishop
    Kenneth Cranham
    Kenneth Cranham
    • Suger
    Patsy Byrne
    Patsy Byrne
    • Agnes
    Cassie Stuart
    Cassie Stuart
    • Petronilla
    Philip Locke
    Philip Locke
    • Poussin
    Victoria Burgoyne
    Victoria Burgoyne
    • Prostitute
    Antonia Cutic
    • Landlady
    Diana Belinic
    • Girl in street
    Davor Fejzagic
    • Boy in street
    Mark Jax
    • Jourdain
    Timothy Watson
    Timothy Watson
    • François
    • (as Tim Watson)
    Andrew H. McLean
    • Gerard
    • (as Andrew McLean)
    Thomas Lockyer
    • Thomas
    Mark Audley
    • Luke
    Kai Dominic
    • Paul
    • Director
      • Clive Donner
    • Writers
      • Chris Bryant
      • Marion Meade
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    6.5863
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    Featured reviews

    10msporter

    I agree with Blackmonk

    I find myself in total agreement with BlackMonk. This is the ultimate philosophical love story. It attempts to answer the age-old question: What is the purpose of life? Is it to serve God, as Abelard thought, or to pursue happiness on Earth, as Heloise believed?

    The film makers do a brilliant job of setting up the dramatic conflict between these two views of life. The writing, dialogue, direction, and acting are all first rate. This is one of the greatest movies ever made, and one of history's greatest love stories! Kim Thompson should have received an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Heloise. She was Heloise.

    It amazes me that one little film gimmick, a feather, could be used so brilliantly to help answer one of life's eternal questions. Make sure you pay close attention to the opening scene, one of the greatest scenes in movie history.

    Enthralling!
    10Gennyfer

    This is by far the most romantic story I have ever seen.

    This movie is a must see for romance fans. It has glorious love scenes, fantastic plot, and characters that are very well developed.
    8rkroningi

    Worthwhile film

    Good enough movie, great story. Abelard and Heloise share one of the great love stories of history. Throw in the religious environment of the middle ages, the clergy's sacred vow of chastity, and a life long enforced penitence, not to mention the unmentionable punishment for any male, and you have a worthwhile film if at all well-made, which this one is. It's a shame that more meaningful movies like this one can't be made available to the American public. The U.S. version has been cut of some sexual content to avoid an R rating, but the love scenes are still erotic and moving. Period costuming also add to the color and enjoyment of 'Stealing Heaven'. As an added bonus, you get philosophical and theological argument and debate. A really worthwhile film overall.
    9BlackMonk

    A Romance in which philosophies clash.

    An historically-based film focusing on the romance between Abelard and Heloise which highlights two philosophical outlooks on life.

    Abelard, though a first-class thinker, accepted the premise of the Church--that one's life belongs to God, that sex is evil, that happiness on earth isn't possible. But yet he acted against that premise--he fell in love with a woman of reason: Heloise. Abelard's implicit premise, the one he subconsciously held, was in fact pro-life and pro-earth. He loved Heloise because she reflected the things he valued most deeply: Intelligence, beauty, and happiness. But since those things are not valued but are in fact derided by the Church, Abelard believed that his feelings for Heloise were wrong, were worthy of guilt.

    Heloise, on the other hand, never accepted the anti-life, anti-pleasure, anti-earth philosophy of the Church. She scoffed at religion, challenged its teachers, and refused to accept things on faith. She held reason, beauty and happiness in high esteem. She saw in Abelard a reflection of her highest values, and, consequently, she acted to gain those values. She never felt guilty about her love for Abelard. She never apologized. She never wavered.

    The movie is wonderful because it demonstrates two contrasting philosophical views on life. But since the predominant view in Abelard's and Heloise's time was based on faith, mysticism and obedience to authority, unfortunately life, happiness and love were casualties. Watch this film with your lover and say a word of thanks to REASON, FREEDOM, and SCIENCE that you two don't live in the atmosphere that those two did.
    10alabamldy

    I thought this was a wonderful movie, I enjoyed the story and the research for the movie was great

    I loved the movie, the story was great, the set designs were wonderful and very well done (I'm a history buff and want to say someone really did their research on the set designs, the way the actors were dressed and the use of language in the film (they didn't use any 20th century words). I felt I was back in the middle ages while watching the film. I thought the actors did a great job, the film could not have been improved on at all, this is a keeper, I plan to watch it over and over again. Anyone who loves history like I do will enjoy it. I really enjoy historical films and this is one of the best I've seen in a long time. If you are looking for a great historical film, this is it.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Quarmby and Edmund Kente were on the possibles list for Poussin.
    • Goofs
      In the construction montage towards the end of the movie, you can see an altar with a number of pumpkins on it. As a plant native to North America there wouldn't be any in 12th century Europe.
    • Alternate versions
      Original international version was cut by seven minutes for its U.S. release to avoid an X rating. Both versions are available on video.
    • Connections
      Spoofed in Tonnerre sous les tropiques (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Come Live With Me, Dearest
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Arranged by David Wulstan

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 1989 (West Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Yugoslavia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stealing Heaven
    • Filming locations
      • Yugoslavia
    • Production companies
      • Amy International Artists
      • FilmDallas Pictures
      • Jadran Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 55m(115 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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