The Necklace

Last night I saw this on TV. The title sounded strange: Chez Maupassant - La Parure. I think I also saw the word "Les Bijoux" as part of the title, but I failed miserably looking up for this at IMDb. Now I know Maupassant is the name of the writer.

The movie reminded me of a book I got for Christmas in the kindergarten, or was it my cousin who got the book and I got another entirely book. I loved the story and was glad last night to be reminded of it.

Mathilde and Jeanne are both friends from convent. Jeanne marries a very rich man and every time Mathilde visits her, her jealousy is getting bigger and bigger. Mathilde's husband, Charles, is not very rich, but a trusty hard-worker. One day, after finishing an important task, Charles gets an invitation for a party which some minister will attend. Mathilde wants to look her best and she asks Charles some money to buy a new dress. Charles sacrifies his plan to buy a new rifle and gives Mathilde the 400 francs. Now Mathilde wants a necklace to go with the new dress, saying that she doesn't want fake jewels. Charles suggests her to borrow one from her friend Jeanne. Jeanne lends Mathilde a very beautiful necklace. Mathilde has a great time, even dances with the minister. After the party, back at home, Mathilde realizes the necklace is gone. Perhaps it has fallen somewhere. Charles re-traces their route from the party, but it is no use. Mathilde can't tell Jeanne that she has lost the necklace, so she and Charles have a jewel-maker to make the same necklace for them for 36.000 francs (after discount). They use their inheritance, borrow from friends, and everybody else. Jeanne doesn't know it isn't her necklace, but a replacement.
It takes 10 years for Mathilde and Charles to pay all their debts. They live in poverty, work more harder, and have no time to make children. Then, Mathilde meets Jeanne with her boy and she tells her about her unhappy life. Jeanne is surprised, because the original necklace she has lent to Mathilde, is actually a fake. The last part when Mathilde meets Jeanne again shows clearly how big the difference between the two. In the beginning both women are young and beautiful, but in the end Jeanne is still the same while Mathilde has become an old, weak lady with white hair.