Les Malheurs de Sophie

At the Castle of Rean, Sophie is thrilled to receive the beautiful doll her father has sent her from Paris. While bickering with her beloved cousin, Paul, she decides to leave her doll in the sun to let her get some colour. When Camille and Madeleine arrive for afternoon tea, the wax doll has melted. Luckily, Mrs de Fleurville and Mrs de Rean manage to mend it. Sophie escapes to greedily steal the candied fruits brought by Mrs de Fleurville. She tries to hide the fact that she stole but her mother punishes her for what she has done.

It is Sophies's seventh birthday. She has always dreamt of becoming as beautiful as her mother, so she decides to trim her eyebrows. Everybody makes fun of her. Things start to look up again when Mrs de Fleurville and her daughters invite Sophie to a lovely doll tea party. Sophie decides to make her own tea but everybody chokes on the horrible concoction. Mrs de Rean wrongly blames the maid, Lucie. Sophie manages to convince her mother not to let Lucie go.

Mr de Rean sends his wife a beautiful sewing box. He asks that it be given to Sophie only if she is well behaved. Sophie is dying to get her hands on the box, and cannot resist the temptation to stal its contents. Very soon, the theft is discovered and Sophie learns that the present was actually meant for her all along. She understands that in future, she will have to be more patient.

Sophie decides to organise an event to commemorate the death of her irrevocably damaged doll. The children organise a procession which soon turns into a water fight. Sophie suddenly gets the idea to wet her hair to make it curly like Camille's. Of course, she catches a cold and gets sick. Thanks to her mother's care and attention, she is soon right as rain.

Sophie wants a donkey so badly that she manages to convince her mother to let her have one. Sophie plays with her new donkey, Cadichon, with Jean and Leon who come from Paris. The children enjoy playing with Cadichon but laughing soon turns to crying when they fall. The donkey is too much trouble and so it must be sold. Jean gives Sophie a little book as a memory of their time together with Cadichon. Could Jean be Sophie's first love?

There is a wolf on the loose around the castle. When Sophie sneaks off to taste the strawberries, she is attacked. Thanks to her cousin's Paul courage, she is saved. Paul tries to make Sophie feel a bit better by finding her a little squirrel to play with. Meanwhile, a very pretty little kitten is interested in Mrs de Rean's bullfinch. Fortunately all ends well.

Paul and Sophie's families have to go back to America to sort out an inheritance from a railway tycoon named Mr Fichini. They must go to Paris first. On the journey, the children imagine this faraway country, full of fantastic animals. In Paris, Sophie, as inquisitive as ever, gets lost in the fabrics department of a big store. Luckily, she finds her mother again and gets a new toy sailing boat that she tries out on the Tuileries pond.

Mr de Rean joins the families on their trip. They arrive at Le Havre Harbour after an amusing train journey. On the ship, the Sybille, the children discover the mysteries of this big and beautiful liner. They are happy in their luxury cabins and the trip is going great until suddenly a storm hits. Paul's parents and Sophie's mother disappear into the sea. Paul stays with the captain and Sophie survives the disaster with her father.

Adrift in a life-raft in the middle of the ocean, Sophie and her father are eventually rescuesd by a Spanish frigate. Captain de Vega takes care of them and sails them to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Here they are welcomed to Mr Fichini's plantation by his adopted daughter, Fedora. Sophie is very sad about the tragedy she has been through but Ma'Vone, her nanny, helps her through. One whole year goes by and Sophie is nine years old now. She befriends Jim who shows her the bayous. Meanwhile, Sophie's father and Fedora announce that they are to be married. Sophie is not happy about this.

Fedora Fichini organises a splendid party to celebrate her marriage to Mr de Rean. Sophie prefers to stay with Jim and the cotton pickers in a tree house. This is where she hides from her new stepmother her gradually reveals her true character, becoming more and more cruel to Sophie. Weakened by sickness, Mr de Rean doesn't seem to notice what's going on. When he finally understands that his wife is mistreating his daughter, Fedora is filled with rage. Mr de Rean has just enough time to ask for her forgiveness before dying. MaVone comforts poor Sophie but unfortunately when it is time to return to France with her nasty stepmother, MaVone does not come.

Mrs de Rosbourg and her daughter Marguerite are invited to Mrs de Fleurville's home following a serious coach accident witnessed by Camille and Madeleine. At Reans' Castle, Fedora gets rid of any trace of Sophie's mother, including the painting in the master bedroom. Sophie finds her old beloved doll again. Aware of Sophie's return, Mrs de Fleurville invites both her and Fedora to afternoon tea.

Sophie is reunited with her friends Camille and Madeleine and their mother. She is given a warm welcome. Fedora makes everybody laugh at her expense by tripping her and making her fall on her backside. This cruel stepmother is sometimes more ridiculous than she is nasty! Whilst playing in the garden, Sophie clumsily steps on some flowers that Camille was carefully growing for her mother's birthday. Luckily, Mrs de Rosbourg fixes it quickly by having some beautiful flowers planted. Camille and Madeleine love the new flowers. Sophie is happy to think that at least she can go to Fleurville regularly to escap from her nasty stepmother.

Sophie decides to save the hedgehogs, soon to be drowned by Fleurville's caretaker. She falls into the pond, pulling Marguerite in with her. The haymaker saves them. After a tasty meal, they go to see the beautiful orchard full of pear trees. Unable to resist, Sophie steals pears that were supposed to be left on the trees to ripen. Fedora accuses Camille who doesn't dare sat it was really Sophie. Mrs de Rosbourg understands what has happened but keeps quiet in order to keep Sophie out of trouble.

When the girls and their mothers visit the Castle of Rean, Sophie tells them that she is starving and dying of thirst, as her stepmother forbids her to drink during the day. Fedora announces that she is about to leave on a journey and to the great joy of the girls, asks them to look after Sophie while she is away. Fedora suspects Sophie to have stolen some barley water from her cabinet and punishes her. Later, while talking with Mrs Louchet, Sophie understands that it is her daughter, Palmyre, who stole the barley water. The exemplary litle girls hurry to clear Sophie's name. Mrs de Fleurville takes advantage of Fedora's embarrassment and gets to take Sophie home that same day.

Sophie is happy in Fleurville. She can eat as much as she wants but she does so to the point where she is sick. She has a fight with Marguerite and Mrs de Fleurville obliges her to go and calm herself down in a small room. Sophie rebels violently but soon understands that Mrs de Fleurville is doing this out of love. Soon everything is back to normal and Sophie can go back to playing with her friends.

Lucie, Sophie's former maid, comes to visit. Sophie confides in her, telling her things about her mother and her early childhood. Later, she hears Mrs de Fleurville announcing that the girls are going to spend the winter in a Parisian mansion. Sophie runs to her room, sure that she will not be included in this plan. Mrs de Fleurville reassures her. In Paris, Sophie once again meets Jean and Leon. Mrs de Fleurville has spoilt her and a beautiful dress and coat are awaiting her. The coat comes in useful as soon it starts to snow and the children have a snowball fight and go skidding.

The coach bringing them back from Paris has an accident. Sophie and Camille are obliged to spend the night at a blacksmith's while Mrs de Fleurville, Mrs de Rosbourg and Madeleine go back to Fleurville. Sophie gives Madeleine a beautiful little robin she found in the grass and saved from certain death. Even though she is a bit anxious becuase she doesn't have her doll with her, Sophie spends a happy night in the modest blacksmith's house. The next day, they return to Fleurville and Sophie is reunited with her doll. The robin has been carefully looked after by Madeleine and is in good health. He is kept in his cage most of the time, until Sophie decides to free him.

Sophie is happy. He stepmother has remarried in Italy and leaves her with Mrs de Fleurville until further notice. While taking a walk in the woods one day, the little girls and their mothers come across Marie Lecomte who has just been attacked by hooligans. They take care of her and visit her sick mother. Sophie discovers that Marie's father was in the same shipwreck as her and Mrs de Rosbourg learns that he was her husband's first mate. Everybody helps Francoise and Marie Lecomte move into a nice little house. Sophie gives a pretty dress to Marie. Everyone is being very generous ad Sophie is inspired by this.

Sophie wants to be as generous as Mrs de Fleurville and Mrs de Rosbourg. She convinces Marguerite to go with her and visit and old woman who is in need of their help. The two little girls leave and get lost in the woods. They are frightened by wild boars and they begin to panic. Luckily, the village butcher finds them and brings them back to the castle. The next day, to thank him, they visit him with their maid, Elisa. Sophie comes to understand that Mrs de Fleurville was very worried and that she loves her like her own mother would.

The little girls are not allowed to see Camille, who has smallpox. During the night, Sophie breaks the rule and and goes into Camille's room to give her a drawing. Fortunately, she doesn't catch the disease, unlike Elisa who comes down with smallpox too. Everyone gets better again and to celebrate this, a donkey ride is organised at the castle. Sophie has the slowest and most stubborn of the donkeys. The cousins, Jean and Leon, arrive from Paris. Jean and Sophie are happy to be reunited. A little surprise performance is organised for Elisa and Sophie plays the lead role.

Leon challenges Sophie, Marguerite and Madeleine to build a hut. The three girls want to catch Leon out and manage to quickly build a beautiful hut. Later, during a game of hide and seek, Sophie falls into a hollow tree and disappears. Jean and Marguerite help her out, while Leon stands, frozen with fear. Mr de Ruges wants to teach his son a lesson and as Leon runs away, a shaggy looking man with unkempt hair comes out of a bush. It turns out he is a sailor looking for his family. His name is Blaise, and he was the Sybille's first mate. Sophie realises that she and her father were not the only survivors of the wreck and that Paul could still be alive. She is the only one who knows that Blaise is father and husband to the Lecomte women and has the privilege to witness their reunion.

Paul and Captain de Rosbourg may be alive! Marguerite and Sophie never stop talking about the wreck, he survivors, America and the Caribbean Islands. Mrs de Rosbourg cannot sleep any more because she cannot stop thinking about finding the husband she thought dead. Mrs de Fleurville asks her brother, Mr de Ruges, to see with the Navy Ministry to see if there may have been any other survivors of the shipwreck. Meanwhile at the castle, the children continue to build huts and Blaise talks about his life on the islands. Contradictory news come from Paris: firstly, it is believed that Mr de Rosbourg could be alive. However, nobody has seen him since the wreck. As for Paul, Sophie wonders if he might one day return.

Paul and Mr de Rosbourg are in a coach, racing towards Fleurville. Mr de Rosbourg is impatient. Paul is worried that his parents and his cousin Sophie won't be at the castle. He believes they drowned in the wreck. When Mrs de Rosbourg sees her husband she is overwhelmed with joy and runs towards him. Marguerite jumps into her father's arms. Sophie begins to cry when she sees that Paul isn't there. The Captain tells her that Paul is walking home. Sophie runs into the woods, calling him. When they find eachother, the cousins embrace, thrilled to be reunited. A party is organised at the castle to celebrate the family being reunited. Everybody listens to the survivors' story in the hut that the children have built. Sophie is so happy. She and Paul will never be apart again.

The children are intruiged by the story of Paul's adventures. Leon is jealous and tries to hurt Sophie and Paul by telling them that adopted children are never loved as much as natural children. In an effort to change the subject, Elisa puts forward the idea of illuminating the castle with Chinese lanterns. During the preparations, Paul tells his cousins of the mischief Sophie got up to in the past. Jean, feeling that Sophie is hurt, talks with her. Mr de Rosbourg announces to Paul that he has legally adopted him. This good news reminds Sophie that Fedora might soon make a reappearane. Mrs de Fleurville reassures her that all will be fine.

Mrs de Fleurville and Mr de Ruges are going to Paris is order to become Sophie's official guardians. This will only be possible with Fedora Fichini's permission. She is still in Italy. Meanwhile at the castle, Paul and the captain are hunting down a thief disguised as a ghost. He scares the maids and steals vegetables from the garden. Sophie misses Mrs de Fleurville and Jean. Jean is bored in Paris and convinces his father to let him spend the rest of the summer in Fleurville. At the castle, Sophie protects Leon, the scared braggart, while Paul gets rid of a band of hooligans who are annoying a simpleton. Paul teaches Leon the principles of a fight. Jean and Sophie become closer, even in their dreams. Sometimes Sophie thinks that her stepmother is only a ghost.

Sophie is walking in the park when she spots Fedora's coach. Terrified, she runs to take refuge at Fleurville. Mr de Ruges decides to go to Rean to meet Mrs Fichini and inform her that he plans to adopt Sophie. When he returns, he announces that Fedora is dying and that she wishes to see Sophie. She has no objection to Mr de Ruges and Mrs de Fleurville becoming Sophie's legal guardians. Sophie goes to see Fedora with Mr de Ruges. In her final moments, Mrs Fichini asks for Sophie's forgiveness. Sophie, moved, forgives her. A fancy dress ball is organised as a leaving party for Jean and Leon. The children find out that Elisa and Hurel are going to be marries so they decide to dress up as brides and grooms. Couples are thus formed: Sophie and Jean, Leon and Camille, Paula and Marguerite. Mrs de Rosbourg is pregnant and asks Sophie if she will be the godmother of her child. If it's a girl, she will be called Pauline...