Le rouge et le noir (1954)

Julien Sorel, a carpenter’s son and a seminarian, is accused of attempting to murder Louise de Rênal. Before the jurors retire, he calls for himself to be sentenced to death, while saying that the real reason for his sentence is not this crime, but that he tried to cross the class barrier. As he waits for the verdict, he revisits his past. Flashback: Julien is placed by Abbé Chélan as tutor to Monsieur and Madame de Rênal. Louise and Julien are immediately drawn to each other and begin an affair. Elisa, Madame de Rênal’s maid, who is herself in love with Julien, though he rebuffs her, claiming he wants to become a priest, discovers their affair and, out of jealousy, sends an anonymous letter denouncing them to Monsieur de Rênal. To put an end to the brewing scandal, Louise, torn between Christian morality and her love, agrees with Julien that he should leave his position. The director of the seminary, transferred to Paris, takes Julien with him and finds him a job as secretary to the Marquis de la Mole, whose daughter, Mathilde, in turn falls madly in love with him. When the marquis learns of Mathilde and Julien’s relationship, he is furious, but eventually chooses to let them marry rather than bring disgrace upon them. However, he writes to Madame de Rênal to inquire into his future son-in-law’s character. She is forced by her confessor to write an accusatory letter at his dictation. The marriage plans are abandoned, and Julien, feeling betrayed by his former lover, fires two pistol shots at her in the middle of a religious service. End of flashback: Julien is sentenced to death. Madame de Rênal obtains permission to visit him in prison so that he will repent and ask for a pardon, which he refuses to do. But as soon as they see each other, they fall into each other’s arms again. Julien is guillotined, and Louise dies of grief three days later.