Jefferson in Paris is a 1995 Franco-American historical drama film directed by James Ivory . The screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala is a semi-fictional account of Thomas Jefferson's tenure as the Ambassador of the United States to France prior to his Presidency, and his alleged relationships with artist Maria Cosway and slave Sally Hemings. Set in the period between 1784 and 1789, the film portrays Jefferson as an ambassador at Versailles prior to the French Revolution. French liberals and intellectuals hope he will lead them away from the corruption of the court of King Louis XVI and... Marie-Antoinette and toward a more democratic form of government. Although deploring the poverty of the common people, he embraces the riches of French culture and civilization. It is his first time abroad, and he takes advantage of the opportunity to extend his knowledge of liberal arts and science while absorbing the refinements France has to offer. A lonely widower, Jefferson develops a close friendship with beautiful Anglo-Italian painter and musician Maria Cosway.
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| Release date: | March 31, 1995 |
| Directed by: | James Ivory |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 139 Minutes |
| Producer: | Ismail Merchant, Humbert Balsan, Paul Bradley, Donald Rosenfeld |
| Editor: | Isabelle Lorente, Andrew Marcus |
| Music by: | Richard Robbins, Antonio Sacchini, William Christie |
| Cinematography: | Pierre Lhomme |
| Screenplay by: | Ruth Prawer Jhabvala |
| Estimated budget: | $14,000,000 |
| Genre: | Biography |