Mata Hari – Agent H21

Synopis:

Under her stage name Mata Hari Dutch-born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (Jeanne Moraeu) causes a sensation as an erotic nude dancer in Paris during the First World War. She moves in the highest circles and had several wealthy lovers. At a reception hosted by the Countess du Maine, she meets Captain François Lasalle (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who becomes her lover. However, this meeting was no coincidence but was arranged by the German secret service, for which Mata Hari works as a spy. She is supposed to give documents that François carries with him to a contact man while her lover is sleeping. But Mata Hari falls in love with François, who soon proposes to her, but who she rejects, otherwise she would have to give up her espionage activities.

Only under pressure does she accept her next assignment.The Germans threaten that something will happen to François if she does not continue to cooperate. She is supposed to steal the plans of a French ammunition depot from a safe. The key to the safe is in the possession of Colonel Pelletier who she is supposed to seduce, so she can take it from him while he is sleeping. The plan succeeds, also thanks to her chauffeur Julien, who is her protector and accomplice. The plans are to be handed over in Barcelona. For the trip Mata Hari has to withdraw money from the bank in Paris, where the French authorities set a trap up for her and arrest her. A military court sentences her to death. François has since been killed by a German patrol and her accomplice Julien has also been arrested. Mata Hari is executed in Vincennes by the French military police.

About Jeanne Moreau:

Jeanne Moreau (*1928) was the daughter of a British dancer and a French brasserie owner. From 1946 she studied at the Paris Conservatory and then at the Comédie-Française, where she introduced to classical theatre. She soon became known as a sensitive, differentiated character actress. In 1952 she joint the experimental Théâtre National Populaire by Jean Vilar, who was also the founder of the renowned Avignon Festival, where she also performed. She subsequently appeared on various theatre stages and on Broadway. Moreau enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best actresses of her generation and was honoured with numerous theatre awards.

From 1948 onward, Jeanne Moreau also appeared in movies. After smaller roles like in Jacques Becker‘s “Touchez pas au Grisbi” of 1953, where she played at Jean Gabin‘s side, she had her first bigger success with Louis Malles “Ascenseur pour L’Échauffaoud” in 1957. Her final breakthrough came in 1958 with the then controversially recieved movie “The Lovers“, also directed by Louis Malle. This was followed by numerous leading roles in French and international productions, among others in movies by Michelangelo Antonioni (“La Notte“), Orson Welles (“The Trial“), Luis Buñuel (“Diary of a Chambermaid“), François Truffaut (“The Bride wore Black” or Roger Vadim (“Les Liaisons Dangereuses“). She went down in film history utlimately with the role of Catherine in the cult film “Jules and Jim” by François Truffaut from 1962. In 1976 she made her directing debut with “Lumière“. But she also returned successfully to the stage between her film engagements.

Jeanne Moreau was married twice, from 1949 to 1951 with the actor Jean-Louis Richard, with whom she has the son Jérôme, who is today a successful painter. From 1977 to 1980 she was married to the director William Friedkin. On the morning of 31 July 2017, Jeanne Moreau was found dead in her apartment by her cleaning lady. She was buried at the Cimetière de Montmartre.