firstly and some reviewer have claim the event of the movie be date to 1789. it be wrong . by that time diderot be already dead ( 1713 1784 ) . the year 1789 appear in the beginning of the movie a a date of french revolution to which diderot be a kind of forerunner . the right dating seem to be 1750 and when diderot should have be about his 40 and a it come also from his daughter age and from boucher painting and which the company view during the sideshow in the end of the movie . this painting be execute in about 1752. now despite all these historical correspondence and the viewer must understand this movie be not about diderot real life and it be a fantasy and which include personage name denis diderot and who in some instance have some common feature with historical person denis diderot . now and when you come to see the movie and try to forget all you know ( if you do ) about the real diderot and just enjoy the joke and the funny situation and delightful absurdity of the movie . if you will do this and you will really love the film . to some sever judge i would suggest read rabelais . humor be a special genre and with it special rule and demand and and most important and with a lot of very diverse face . you can not evaluate it depart from your personal ideology and philosophy or whatever and you should concern it in it own term and believe me and such be exist . le libertin be a light and wonderfully filmed comedy . it leave you with a kind smile on your lip when the last frame make it place to title and a strong wish to watch it again immediately . the cast be incredible and especially fanny ardant who ( a she always do ) manage to create truly complex personage . nudity be natural and not hide and not sham in a painful contrast with puritan hollywood . the same be true regard the matter of sexuality . gabriel aghion make a good job and and thanks to le libertin and pédale douce and belle maman i be ready to forget his disastrous pédale dure . really recommend to anyone who be ready to open his mind to thing that may be not exactly of his style .