Foresight
Regal and Royalty: Marie Antoinette Movie ReviewMonday, May 21, 2007 By Amy Worchuck
In the new 2006 movie, Marie Antoinette Maria Antonia, an Archduchess from Austria is arranged to marry the Dauphin of France, Louis XVI to guarantee an alliance between the two countries. When she arrives at the France boarder, she is stripped of all that is Austrian and given all new French things. She marries the Dauphin and is thrown into a life of odd customs and gossip that she had not known in Austria. People watch her every move, even in the bathtub! Pressure is on her to produce an heir to the thrown to secure her place and after being married for a while the King still does not act the least interested in lovemaking. She is gossiped about and presented thousands of dollars worth of fancy clothes and other wealth luxuries. Her mother tells her to be more charming. She does later give birth to two girls and not heirs and also has a secret affair behind the kings back. Later, she produces an heir, but the child soon dies and tensions tighten with France sending money to support American Revolution. French civilians become aggressed and the royal family is forced to leave for their safety. The film was shot well, with en emphasis on the excess of Marie Antoinette and her almost party animal behaviors. The costumes are beautiful and luxurious and the location was exquisite as well. I enjoyed the garden scenes and even felt the pressure of all the French snobs at times. The movie is available to own or to rent at your local movie store but be warned if you are looking for history and not entertainment. The real story of Marie Antoinette is far more intricate and even juicer than the movie. Principal Cast & Characters Kirsten Dunst as Marie-Antoinette Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI Rip Torn as Louis XV Rose Byrne as Duchesse de Polignac Asia Argento as Comtesse du Barry Judy Davis as Comtesse de Noailles Jamie Dornan as Count Fersen Mary Nighy as Princesse Lamballe Shirley Henderson as Aunt Sophie Molly Shannon as Aunt Victoire Steve Coogan as Ambassador Mercy Marianne Faithfull as Maria Teresa |