well, you must watch and see for yourself.
And, it is well worth watching as great entertainment about one of the most interesting periods in history. Seeds of the coming revolution are planted in our minds with subtlety--the lack of money in the court, the bureaucracy of the left wing and the right wing, the need for written proof of aristocracy that goes back centuries. The self regarding rich, just a few years away from destruction in the revolution, sit in their grandeur, ignoring everything but themselves. This contrasts sharply with the scientific and philosophical achievement of the day that are represented by Mathilde. We see Bellegarde, a man of science who reads Rousseau and raised his daughter with such ideals being important. Ponceludon himself doesn't believe religion is the answer to the problems of his swamps. Louis XVI's court, where ridicule could kill, becomes ultimately ridiculous "it is a wonder that it didn't collapse sooner. .
Our hero encounters two women played to perfection by Fanny Ardant and Judith Godreche. Madame Blayac whose carefully preserved beauty and wit make her a favorite with the King is attracted to young Ponceludon and seduces him into her web. In total contrast is Mathilde whose natural beauty reflects her innocence, but who is willing to sell herself into marriage to a man for money to fund her scientific endeavors. A father who studied Rousseau has raised her and her curiosity has been unchecked. While so clearly representative of types, these two women characters are played not at all like caricatures, but as real women with tears and pleasures. .
For those who enjoy a play on words, double entendres, jests (but never a pun for it is the lowest form of wit), the language in Ridicule is a joy. Wit is king. The art of making lively clever remarks in a sharp way (according to Webster) becomes of the highest priority in the court regardless of the cheating, deception and hurt that this causes to others.