Rapt (2009)

Rapt is a 2009 French dramatic film directed by Lucas Belvaux and starring Yvan Attal. It was nominated for 4 César Awards in 2010, including Best Film. It was released in France on 18 November 2009.

Attal plays Stanislas, a wealthy and high-profile businessman who is kidnapped and held for ransom, his finger mailed to his family with their demands. His family comes into conflict with the police and his corporate associates as they struggle to raise the money and pay off the kidnappers. His business associates refuse to pay the ransom, but agree to loan the family only as much as the family's net worth. Stanislas is kept in darkness, unwashed, with little food, constantly threatened by his kidnappers.

Details of his mistresses and gambling emerge in the media. His wife, Francoise, and teenage daughters are traumatized. His business colleagues use it as an opportunity to turn against him. His mother rebukes his wife for not meeting his needs at home.Traumatized by his kidnapping Stanislas returns to his family expecting comfort and joy. Instead he is met by an equally distraught wife and two daughters who demand explanations for his affairs and gambling that has been splashed all over the media. Only his dog is happy to see him. His business associates are eager to tell him that he has been ousted as chairman of the board during his absence. The government suspects that he arranged his own kidnapping to pay off his debts and demands that he submit to questioning. In the last scene he signs papers selling his shares, and mentions to his lawyer that he is too tired to sign divorce papers that day. He opens the mail and finds a note from his previous kidnappers demanding 5 times his net worth.

The film is inspired by the true story of the kidnapping of Édouard-Jean, 3rd Baron Empain, a very wealthy Hungarian-born Belgian aristocrat. The kidnapping of Baron Empain took place in Paris in January 1978.

Synopsis

Grand capitaine d'industrie, Stanislas Graff est enlevé contre rançon. Sa captivité est un calvaire. Dès le début de son enlèvement, ses ravisseurs lui coupent un doigt et ils l'envoient à ses proches. Pendant les deux mois que va durer sa séquestration, l'enquête va révéler des aspects de sa vie privée inconnus de ses proches : grosses pertes aux jeux, parties de chasse, nombreuses maîtresses. La presse à scandale en fait ses choux gras, provoquant le déchirement de sa famille et sa décrédibilisation au sein de son entreprise.

Actors