Benjamin-The Diary of A Virgin

This is BENJAMIN, OR THE DIARY OF A VIRGIN ("Benjamin, ou les mémoires d'un puceau"), a 1968 French comedy directed by Michel Deville. It stars Michèle Morgan, Michel Piccoli, Pierre Clémenti and Catherine Deneuve.

Set in 18th-century France, BENJAMIN tells the story of a 17-year-old orphan of noble birth who is taken by his aunt, the Countess de Valandry, to live at her chateau where he learns the pleasures of lovemaking from a variety of women. The series of young ladies do their best to deflower Benjamin, but never quite succeed, until...

A reunion of sorts for Deneuve, Piccoli and Clémenti, who'd appeared together in Luis Bunel's "Belle de Jour", BENJAMIN was released as "The Diary of an Innocent Boy" in the USA, where it garnered an 'X' rating. Pauline Kael in "The New Yorker" called it a "delicate masterpiece of voluptuous physical grace and refined libertinage".

The film was produced by Mag Bodard ("The Umbrellas of Cherbourg"), and written by Deville and Nina Companéez from their original story. Ghislain Cloquet ("Tess") provided the lush cinematography. BENJAMIN is available on a French region 2 DVD from Gaumont.