Here is the source of "Valmont" and "Dangeous Liasons". Robert Lovelace is a passionate rake. Rich and awash in privilege he sees nothing wrong with the game of seduction. To seduce a pious virgin is his undoing. In the course of this seduction he loses both his heart and his soul. The rape scene is unnerving and may be deeply disturbing to some viewers. Coming out of this pivotal scene with any sort of feeling for Lovelace is a mark of how painfully good an actor Sean Bean is. Watch this first followed by "Valmont" and then "Dangeous Liasons" and you will see the perfect evolution of a classic 17th century theme. The rich production values pull you in to the action and the main theme of seduction still leaves room for the fundamental plot of Greed and Spite to come shining through. A viewing banquet.
