Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

Director Stephen Frears brings to the screen the famous epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, in this film set in 18th century France, with two manipulative aristocrats at the center of the story: the Marquise de Merteuil and the Viscount de Valmont. The two engage in a perverse game of seduction and betrayal, targeting Madame de Tourvel and the innocent Cécile de Volanges, unleashing hurtful effects that may, however, backfire on them. Its exquisite period reconstruction, extraordinary performances and award-winning adapted screenplay have made it a much-loved classic among period dramas.