Blanche

The 19th-century play Mazepa but relocated to 13th-century France, Blanche tells the story of the beautiful young wife (Ligia Branice) of a nobleman many decades older (French acting legend Michel Simon).  As innocent as her name suggests, Blanche becomes the unwilling centre of attention in a power struggle between her husband, the visiting King and his page, the latter a notorious womaniser.  Its unique visual style resembles a medieval fresco, and its period-instruments soundtrack, adapting the ancient ‘Carmina Burana’ song book, was years ahead of its time. (Arrow Academy)