Cousin Bette (1998) ***

Aa bitter old maid (Lange) prepares a terrible revenge against her family. This witty and sarcastic comedy of manners brilliantly exposes the moral decay of France in the last years of the reign of King Louis-Philippe. It belongs to the great French tradition of super-cynical morality fables, populated by spoiled young virgins, debauched men and scheming spinsters.