Ridicule is a 1996 French film set in the 18th century at the decadent court of Versailles. Its title refers to the protagonist's ability to ridicule others, a useful talent in a court where the social status of nobles could rise and fall rapidly. The story critiques the social injustices of late 18th century France, showing the corruption of religion and the callousness of the aristocrats at Versailles who use biting wit and ridicule to further their own ambitions.

The Marquis Grégoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling) is a minor aristocrat and engineer. living in the Dombes, a boggy region north of Lyon. He is one of the few aristocrats who care about the plight of the peasants. Horrified by the sickness and death caused by the disease-carrying mosquitoes that infest the swamps, he draws up plans to drain them; however, the project is far too costly for him to pay for himself, so he goes to Versailles in the hope of obtaining the backing of King Louis XVI (Urbain Cancelier).

Just before reaching Versailles, Ponceludon is robbed and beaten. He is found by the aristocratic doctor, the Marquis de Bellegarde (Jean Rochefort), a great wit at court, and taken to his house to recuperate. Bellegarde sympathizes with Ponceludon's mission and takes him under his wing, teaching him about wit (l'esprit), the primary way to be recognized at Versailles. Ponceludon proves to be very witty, although his provincial background occasionally shows through, and he is invited to court parties and gatherings.

At one such party, he catches L'abbé de Vilecourt (Bernard Giraudeau) cheating at a game of wits, with the help of his lover, Madame de Blayac (Fanny Ardant), a beautiful and rich recent widow. When he tells Madame de Blayac that he knows of her deceit, she begs him not to ruin her and the abbé's reputations. He agrees.

Ponceludon soon becomes recognized as a great wit at court, and after he ridicules an older and pompous man to the great delight of others, he is spoken to by Louis XVI. To petition the king, however, he must prove his lineage; though his family's records were lost in a fire he is eventually recognized as a marquis by the court genealogist. While waiting for an appointment, he meets a dull older aristocrat who has been waiting for weeks to see the king and has fallen asleep in the antechamber. As a cruel joke, the abbé removes the man's shoes and tosses them into the fire. When the victim's name is finally called, he awakes to find he cannot see the king because he is shoeless. After begging to borrow a pair to no avail, he hangs himself the same day, giving Ponceludon his first glimpse of the high stakes at court.

Meanwhile, Mathilde (Judith Godrèche), the doctor's daughter, arrives at her father's house. She is to be engaged to Monsieur de Montaliéri, a rich, old aristocrat whose wife is dying. The old man has money and supports her science experiments; in addition, she will receive an allowance that she can use to help pay off her father's debts. She is extremely interested in science, a reflection of her upbringing (Bellegarde was influenced by Rousseau and his book Emile, which emphasized a child's free choice in his/her interests). Mathilde is warned, though, that if she ever enters court life or loses her innocence and virginity, the marriage will be called off.

Ponceludon quickly becomes friends with Mathilde and helps her with her experiments. As a result, she begins to dread her upcoming marriage more and more. At the same time, Madame de Blayac attempts to lure Ponceludon into her orbit.

To please the abbé, she arranges a dinner party where there are one too many guests and the least witty must leave. Madame de Blayac sexually distracts Ponceludon during the test and he leaves, humiliated. He decides to return to the Dombes. During this time, Mathilde appears at court, breaking the terms of her engagement contract.

After the disgrace of the abbé, who mocks God in front of the king too much, Madame Blayac writes to Ponceludon and convinces him to return to Versailles. He sleeps with her in exchange for her assistance at court; in the end, she arranges a meeting with the king. She cruelly has Mathilde's father attend her in his capacity as a doctor while Ponceludon is still in her bedroom, ensuring that Mathilde learns of their relationship.

There is a presentation at court of Charles-Michel de l'Épée's work with deaf people and development of sign language. The nobles ridicule the deaf mercilessly. In response, de Bellegarde stands and asks how to sign "bravo," leading Ponceludon to rise and clap to show his support. This act of kindness touches Mathilde and they soon make up.

Ponceludon joins the king's entourage and, after showing off his engineering prowess by suggesting an improvement to a cannon, secures a private meeting with the king to discuss his project. The embarrassed cannoneer then insults Ponceludon, forcing him into demanding a duel. Madame de Blayac almost persuades him to avoid the duel, but he eventually decides to proceed, under the supervision of de Bellegarde. He kills the cannoneer, but is is later informed that Louis XVI cannot meet with someone who has killed a man right after his death, although he is assured that it was right to uphold his honor.

Madame de Blayac is furious when she learns that Ponceludon has left her for Mathilde and it appears that she actually loved him. She plots her revenge. Ponceludon is invited to a costume ball "only for wits". Upon arriving at the ball with Mathilde, he is maneuvered into dancing with Madame de Blayac and is tripped. His spectacular fall earns him the derisive nickname the "Marquis des Antipodes". Ponceludon renounces the decadent court life and leaves with Mathilde.

The movie closes in Dover, England, in 1794, after the French Revolution. Bellegarde has fled there for his safety. Text appears on screen informing the viewer that Citizens Grégoire and Mathilde Ponceludon successfully drained the Dombes and live well in revolutionary France.