Princess of Montpensier

Love it, love it, love it. The acting, the cinematography, the costumes...

Most swashbucklers - let's say "The Three Musketeers" - feature sizzling action, romance, treachery...but in the end they are little else but entertainment. This one is a fable of misguided passion.

Marie, the beautiful woman of the tale, becomes the object of desire of four men. The first is her childhood sweetheart, the second is her husband, the third is a prince, and the fourth is a count who is commissioned to educate her. This is a man's world, and they all attempt to woo Marie to become their prize...but she will not offer her love to anyone but her first object of desire.

The events are placed in the context of a religious war between the Catholics and the Protestants in 16th century France. Perhaps the most interesting character, the moral center of the film, is the Count of Chabannes - a man who renounces violence after killing a pregnant woman. He becomes disillusioned about killing others just for religious differences. He is one of the men most attracted to Marie, not just for her beauty, but particularly for her spirit and intelligence. But she refuses to take his desire seriously - because she is in thrill of her own passions for another man, one other than her husband.

The film received little press here in the United States...but it is a wonderful tale, with many layers of meaning. The director exhibits great attention to historical detail. The film shows that a wedding night was actually observed by the family of the pair, a custom to insure the virginity of the bride. Another historical item is that the battles are fought by men on different sides who wear no distinctive uniform. Obviously, that would make identifying your "enemy" more difficult.

Taken as a whole, it was one of my favorities in 2011.

"The Princess of Montpensier" was adapted from the 1662 French novella written by Madame de La Fayette, widely regarded as a roman à clef. In order to hide the identities of her subjects, the author set the story during the Wars of Religion a century earlier. The story begins in 1567. François, Count of Chabannes (Lambert Wilson) has deserted the Huguenot cause because he can no longer tolerate the barbarity of war, leaving him banished by both sides of the conflict. He seeks and receives the protection of the Duke of Montpensier (Michel Vuillermoz), whose son Philippe, Prince of Montpensier (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) will keep him until the King's anger subsides.

It is arranged for Philippe to marry Marie de Mézières (Mélanie Thierry), a young woman with a sizable dowry who happens to be in love with a daring soldier and war hero, her cousin Henri, Duke of Guise (Gaspard Ulliel). On her mother's advice, Marie accepts the marriage and becomes the Princess of Montpensier. But Marie is a willful woman who delights in the attentions she receives from men. Henri seems still to desire her, and a new rival for her attention has forced himself into the picture: The King's brother, the Duke of Anjou (Raphaël Personnaz), likes to flatter Marie and incite her husband's jealousy as well, as the Wars rage on.

It's a soap opera that could have been shorter. Long conversations that are not strictly necessary for character or plot development slow the film down. But there is emotional substance. Philippe's jealousy and hurt feelings at his wife's flirtations are sympathetic. Marie is in an unenviable position, perhaps, if she loves a man whom she cannot have. But that is a common predicament, then and now. She is selfish, willful, and vacillates between trying to do the right thing for her family and her own future and throwing caution and everyone's reputation to the wind. I can't say that I found her or the object of her desire sympathetic. Mélanie Thierry projects her vivacity and pride well, though.

Director Bertrand Tavernier made some changes to the novella in order to properly place the story in the 16th century, as it was written in the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV, and embodies the later sensibilities and mores. What is a historical drama to the French looks a lot like a fairy tale to foreigners. But these social intrigues were, in all likelihood, real, and the bloodshed was certainly real. There is a good deal of swordplay. It's an epic historical romance but, like the Wars against which it plays, the rivalries are messy, and we are not sure who should win. In French with optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles.

The DVD (MPI 2011): Bonus features are a theatrical trailer (2 min) and 3 interviews. "Interview with Historical Advisor Didier Le Fur" (10 min) is worthwhile. Mr. Le Fur discusses Protestants and Catholics in France at the time the film takes place, the views of life and death and how they translated into behavior, some military history, and social history. (In French with English subtitles) "Interview with Actors Mélanie Thierry and Raphael Personnaz" (20 min) is a French television interview in which they talk about their roles and the director. (In French with English subtitles) "Interview with Bernard Tavernier" (4 min) is briefly about his philosophy in making period films. (English)

This is an extraordinary film which I am so so so glad is available on DVD. I saw this at a film festival and was crushed knowing that this will probably be the only time I get to see it but I was wrong. Can't wait to have this in my collection and extremely encourage everyone else to see it. You will NOT be disappointed. Swordfighting, romance, epic battle scenes, everything!

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