Date: 2006
Director: Sofia Coppola
Actors/ Characters: Kirsten Dunst/Marie Antoinette,Jason Schwartzman/Louis XVI, Judy Davis/Comtesse de Noailles, Rip Torn/Louis XV, Rose Byrne /Duchesse de Polignac,Asia Argento/Comtesse du Barry
Summary: The retelling of France's iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette. From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at 15 to her reign as queen at 19 and to the end of her reign as queen and ultimately the fall of Versailles.
Review
I did not expect to enjoy this film as much as I did. This film adaptation of Marie Antoinette's life encompasses her isolation in Versailles, her teen spirit and the historic events of her life through Sofia Coppola's excellent methods of storytelling and the awkwardness she brings to life on screen. I adore how true to life Sofia Coppola's films are and think her style works brilliantly in this film as it makes the characters that much more real.
This was such a refreshing film to watch because typically Marie Antoinette is painted as a villainous women disconcerting herself from the poor and the troubles in France during her reign. This film however depicted her as lonely and free spirited teenage girl. Marie Antoinette became the Delphine of France when she was a mere eighteen years of age which as you can imagine is an overwhelming role to have let alone be eighteen when the responsibility falls on you. Coppola presents the audience with a genuine teenage girl struggling to find her place in the world around her and through that we are able to empathise with Marie on a more meaningful and relatable level.
The beginning of the film really sets up Marie's isolation and her struggle to find a place within the court of Versailles. The soundscape during the film's exposition is brilliantly awkward and highly effective at evoking the same anxiety Marie and her family feel in the audience. The French sneer at Marie upon her arrival and treat her as an outsider, Coppola uses closed framing, awkwardly long shot durations and an unnervingly quiet soundscape to make us feel a sense of displacement and detachment right from the opening shot.
The reoccurring sequence of Marie's day to day routine starting from the dressing in the morning, eating dinner with Louis and attending church ceremonies was effective in stressing the monotonous life of a royal. I really respect Coppola as a director for including sequence such as these since some audience may have been irritated by reoccurring scenes however I found them to be a genius way of depicting real life.
The montages illustrating the excessive wealth of the rich in France during Marie Antoinette's reign were exceptional. I loved the music that was paired with the sequences. The aesthetics of these montages were wonderful and engaging and represented the overindulgent nature of the country and of Marie Antoinette.
The entire aesthetic of the film was beautiful. The mise-en-scene used throughout in the costume, location and props was gorgeous and realistically mirrored the wealth and indulgence of the French court.
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