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Jacques Rivette's version of Emily Bronte's novel might as well be called "Withering Heights" since only segments of the full plot are used, and the setting has been changed to France in the 1930s. The vengeful Heathcliff is now the vengeful Roch (Lucas Belvaux), and Cathy is the more Francophone Catherine (Fabienne Babe). Along with these changes, director Rivette distances both the personal turmoil that leads the spurned Heathcliff to seek revenge, and the despair that drives Cathy to an early death. This treatment tends to transform most protagonists into one-dimensional models, and even transforms the heroine into a easily obnoxious persona.