3113
Hello Summer!
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2005
- Posts
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I did not expect to like this movie, but it does something no other historical film has ever done, and does it so remarkably that I thought I'd write up a quick review.
First, on the negative side: The movie has no real plot and it does drag toward the middle. The reason for this is because it's all from Marie's pov, and so we never get a larger context for events. Although we are *told* that people are unhappy and saying nasty things about Marie, we never see it. So when peasants with impliments of distruction finally show up, we kinda wonder why. All we know is that France has been helping out the American Revolution (Thanks France!), and maybe folk are angry about all their money getting spent on a foreign war (hmmmmm). That's pretty much the extent of the larger context.
Onto the positive: what this film does is a masterful trick. It uses our modern experiences and music for that matter to trick us into identifying with Marie and her situation...and that gets us to see the history not as some painting from the past, or some time-machine visit, but as NOW.
When this works, it's quite mind blowing. For example, we're all familiar with Versailles and this rococo period. The tendency is to see this style, on film or in a museum and say "So, that's the way it was, huh?" But back then, all that elaborate, over-the-top style wasn't the past. It was the present and modern. This movie gets you enough into Marie's pov that when she arrives at the French court, so do you. And you suddenly *get it*. The whole style clicks together. It's mind-boggling, but it is everywhere--clothes, food, pianos. The powdered wig style isn't just something old men signing the constitution wore, it's all the rage. And when we see Marie dreaming of her lover in cape and tri-corner hat, well, we can see how incredibly dashing and romantic a style it could be as well.
In the end, the director achieves her aim primarily by turning Versallies into an elite private school--you do end up wondering if the metaphor is that the French Court was like a modern high school or if a modern high school is like the French court; but you get that feeling of rich young people stuck at an elite retreat--with only each other to talk about and talk to; with strange customs and manners built up out of being so rich and so elite. This, as I mentioned in my first point, is problematic. Most private schools don't get shut down at the end by disgruntled public school kids.
Well...at least not yet.
This is also what makes the film drag. If you ever dreamed about being a prince/princess with all the money in the world and servants to wait on you hand and foot...watch this movie. It'll change your mind real quick. There's only so many times you can see these people eating elaborate sweets, watching fireworks, gambling, and dressing up in ever more elaborate outfits just to amuse themselves. You start to wish this elite private school would teach some classes or get the kids doing charity work.
It's a dazzling film, historically accurate with a twist or two--and that twist or two is what brings it to life--like the dancers at the ball doing period steps to modern music, making the viewer understand this party as a party, and, in one brilliant shot, a pair of modern sneakers by Marie's bed (if you're not looking closely you'll miss them. They're a subliminal and artistic message).
Well worth watching, IMHO. Certainly a very different kind of film than most of what's currently available on DVD.
First, on the negative side: The movie has no real plot and it does drag toward the middle. The reason for this is because it's all from Marie's pov, and so we never get a larger context for events. Although we are *told* that people are unhappy and saying nasty things about Marie, we never see it. So when peasants with impliments of distruction finally show up, we kinda wonder why. All we know is that France has been helping out the American Revolution (Thanks France!), and maybe folk are angry about all their money getting spent on a foreign war (hmmmmm). That's pretty much the extent of the larger context.
Onto the positive: what this film does is a masterful trick. It uses our modern experiences and music for that matter to trick us into identifying with Marie and her situation...and that gets us to see the history not as some painting from the past, or some time-machine visit, but as NOW.
When this works, it's quite mind blowing. For example, we're all familiar with Versailles and this rococo period. The tendency is to see this style, on film or in a museum and say "So, that's the way it was, huh?" But back then, all that elaborate, over-the-top style wasn't the past. It was the present and modern. This movie gets you enough into Marie's pov that when she arrives at the French court, so do you. And you suddenly *get it*. The whole style clicks together. It's mind-boggling, but it is everywhere--clothes, food, pianos. The powdered wig style isn't just something old men signing the constitution wore, it's all the rage. And when we see Marie dreaming of her lover in cape and tri-corner hat, well, we can see how incredibly dashing and romantic a style it could be as well.
In the end, the director achieves her aim primarily by turning Versallies into an elite private school--you do end up wondering if the metaphor is that the French Court was like a modern high school or if a modern high school is like the French court; but you get that feeling of rich young people stuck at an elite retreat--with only each other to talk about and talk to; with strange customs and manners built up out of being so rich and so elite. This, as I mentioned in my first point, is problematic. Most private schools don't get shut down at the end by disgruntled public school kids.
Well...at least not yet.
This is also what makes the film drag. If you ever dreamed about being a prince/princess with all the money in the world and servants to wait on you hand and foot...watch this movie. It'll change your mind real quick. There's only so many times you can see these people eating elaborate sweets, watching fireworks, gambling, and dressing up in ever more elaborate outfits just to amuse themselves. You start to wish this elite private school would teach some classes or get the kids doing charity work.
It's a dazzling film, historically accurate with a twist or two--and that twist or two is what brings it to life--like the dancers at the ball doing period steps to modern music, making the viewer understand this party as a party, and, in one brilliant shot, a pair of modern sneakers by Marie's bed (if you're not looking closely you'll miss them. They're a subliminal and artistic message).
Well worth watching, IMHO. Certainly a very different kind of film than most of what's currently available on DVD.
The Comte de Artois and rumours of bisexuality...... 
