Marie Antoinette (2006)

Marie Antoinette - 2006

Our next film is 2006's "Marie Antoinette", starring Kirsten Dunst.  The film presents the life of the fabled French queen like never before.  From her origins in Austria until she leaves Versailles forever, the film documents all aspects of Marie Antoinette's life.

The supporting cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Asia Argento, Molly Shannon, Shirley Henderson, Marianne Faithfull, Jamie Dornan, Steve Coogan, Mary Nighy, and Tom Hardy.

The film opens in Austria at the court of Empress Maria Theresa.  She bids her daughter Marie Antoinette farewell as she heads for her new life as the Dauphine of France.  After giving her some motherly counsel, she sends her on her way.

Before she can enter France, she must rid herself of everything that is Austrian, from her dog to her undergarments.  When she emerges onto French soil, she's a completely changed woman.

She meets the King of France, who approves of her.  She sees her future husband's disapproving aunts.  She also meets her husband Louis for the first time.  He's a shy, timid man who barely shows any interest in her.

After a carriage ride, she arrives at the place that is to be her home, the Palace of Versailles.

Inside, she's shown the rooms that are to be hers, and the bedroom that she will share with her new husband.

Marie Antoinette and Louis are soon afterwards married in the Chapel of Versailles, and she is now the official Dauphine of France, the future Queen.

At their wedding reception, Marie Antoinette gets a first look at the favorite of the King, Madame du Barry, a vain, rude, obnoxious lady obsessed with court recognition.

Following an unconsummated wedding night, Marie Antoinette awakens to a room full of people.  Her mistress of the robes informs her of the intricacies of the court custom.  It all seems very ridiculous to Marie Antoinette.

She must even eat meals with people parading in front of her.  Her husband has no trouble at all, and eats as though they weren't there.

She finds a friend in the Princess de Lamballe, and takes every opportunity of relaxing with her, even laughing during Mass.

At dinner, Marie Antoinette listens to the gossips around the table.  She witnesses the appalling table manners of the King and Madame du Barry, and also watches as her husband shows more interest in food than he does in her.

She watches her husband as they go through their daily routines, longing for more than the status quo.

Marie Antoinette still has a friend in the Princess de Lamballe.  Madame du Barry is desperate for Marie Antoinette to speak to her.  Marie Antoinette, however, refuses at every opportunity.

She hears from her mother, Empress Maria Theresa, who admonishes her to consummate her marriage and have a child to secure her position, and also to not neglect to invite Madame du Barry to functions she hosts, as this could also endanger her position.  Feeling isolated, Marie Antoinette begins to become depressed.

Madame du Barry begins to cause trouble for Marie Antoinette, who still continues to ignore her.

Eventually, Marie Antoinette becomes resigned and quite used to the daily rituals surrounding her.

Eventually, she is prevailed upon by the Ambassador from Austria to at least speak once to Madame du Barry.  She utters one sentence to her and proclaims it the last she'll ever speak to the woman.  Afterwards, Madame du Barry smiles triumphantly at the King.

In her emptiness, Marie Antoinette throws herself into extravagance: shopping and gambling to excess.

Their marriage still unconsummated, Marie Antoinette and Louis seek a doctors advice.  However, nothing happens.

One night at a performance the theater at Versailles, she meets the Duchess de Polignac, a flamboyant, extravagant lady whom Marie Antoinette admits into her inner circle of friends.

Time passes, and still there is no heir to the throne of France on the horizon. (However, the gardens of Versailles are shown here to full effect.)

Admonishing letters from her mother, the biting comments of courtiers, and the birth of a child to her sister-in-law all conspire to make Marie Antoinette sink even deeper into depression and extravagance.

She throws herself wholeheartedly into the world of shopping, shoes, jewelry, gambling, champagne, and rich, indulgent desserts.  (Note the addition of a pair of modern-day Converse tennis shoes in one of the pictures above.)

One night in Paris, Marie Antoinette and Louis attend a masquerade ball.  There, she meets Count Fersen, a man to whom she's instantly intrigued by and attracted to.

Shortly after the ball, the King of France dies, and Louis and Marie Antoinette are proclaimed King and Queen of France.

They are crowned in regal style.  Now the Queen of France, all she needs is a child to secure her position in the country.

One day, Marie Antoinette's brother comes to visit.  While talking to Louis, he brings up the subject of the marriage bed, and he gives Louis some suggestions and pointers.

The result of that conversation was a child, Marie Therese.  Although not the desired son, Marie Antoinette is thrilled and throws herself into motherhood.

Her husband gifts her with a rural retreat, the Petit Trianon.  Marie Antoinette loves it.

She begins to isolate herself from court life and the hard-partying that she used to be a part of.

As time passes, she spends more and more time with her daughter at the country retreat, tending to the farm animals herself.

She even plays a milkmaid in the theater at Versailles, causing consternation among the courtiers, who are upset that because of the Queen's absence from court, their positions aren't being recognized and they feel uncertain of their status.

When her husband calls her back to court to help him entertain, she meets Count Fersen once again.  This time, they embark on a passionate affair, which is only broken when he is called for military service.

Back at court, Marie Antoinette is subjected to all kinds of malicious gossip and innuendo, half-truths and lies.  Her response is to not give them any credence.  The populace of France is very disturbed by her, thinking she is spoiled, selfish, and uncaring about them.

In time, Marie Antoinette gives birth to the long-awaited son, Louis-Joseph.

Time passes, and she continues to divide her time between her royal duties and her country life.

The public still thinks her incredibly extravagant, and at a concert at the Versailles theater, Marie Antoinette can feel the public mood has shifted with regards to her.

The death of a third child sends Marie Antoinette and her family into deepest mourning, and brings a heaviness from which she cannot escape.

A mob gathers at Versailles, and Marie Antoinette goes onto the balcony to face them.  The riots, however, don't cease, and the shouts of the angry crowd can be heard as the family eats and sleeps.

Marie Antoinette and Louis make the decision to leave Versailles for the safety of their children.  They travel to Paris, and as history reminds us, certain doom.

Cast rundown:

   Kirsten Dunst..................................Queen Marie Antoinette

   Jason Schwartzman..........................King Louis XVI

   Judy Davis......................................Comtesse de Noailles

   Rip Torn..........................................King Louis XV

   Rose Byrne......................................Duchess de Polignac

   Asia Argento....................................Madame du Barry

   Molly Shannon.................................Princess Victoire

   Shirley Henderson............................Princess Sophie

   Marianne Faithfull.............................Empress Maria Theresa

   Jamie Dornan..................................Count Fersen

   Steve Coogan..................................Ambassador Mercy

   Mary Nighy......................................Princess de Lamballe

   Tom Hardy.......................................Raumont

And that's all for Marie Antoinette.  It's an absolutely beautiful film.  The movie was filmed at the actual Palace of Versailles, and it benefits heavily from the use of the buildings and gardens.

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