2010. Dir: Bertrand Tavernier. Starring: Mélanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Gaspard Ulliel and Raphaël Personnaz. ●●●●○
About 17 years ago I did my GCSE exams, the first level of secondary exams that basically decide whether you have the academic potential to move on to Advanced and later undergraduate level studies. In those exams I did well at Maths and Drama but received a poor result for History and utterly failed in French. It could therefore be considered surprising that I went to see the Gallic historical drama Princesse de Montpensier, however I am pleased to report that even someone as ill-prepared for the experience as I am can enjoy the bodice ripping, intense action and fully formed subtext.
Taking place in 16th Century France against the backdrop of the civil wars between the Catholics and Huguenots (culminating in the St. Batholomew's Day massacre) the plot revolves around the eponymous Princess (Mélanie Thierry) and the four men who fall for her, principally the rivalry between her husband the Prince (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) and her childhood sweetheart Henri de Guise (Gaspard Ulliel). I'm getting ahead of myself though, as much as the Princess is the central figure the film takes a while to introduce her, reflecting the role of women in society - even among the upper echelons of society - where they are frequently defined by their relationships with men.
Instead we start on the battlefield, observing the Comte de Chabannes (Lambert Wilson) commit war crimes and then, overcome with guilt and remorse, vow to never again raise a sword to defend a faith system, especially given the civil war can be boiled down to a literal understanding of transubstantiation. Like all tragic figures his epiphany and the reasons behind it takes him down the path that will ultimately lead to his downfall, but not before he enters the service of the Prince de Montpensier as a tutor to his bride-to-be, instructing her in the customs and politics of the court.
Which is when we meet the respective fathers of the Prince and Princess, hammering out the terms of the nuptials, like a trade agreement they discuss the political ramifications for each of the Princesses suitors, with the Duc persuasive and brusque taking control over the situation and shafting de Guise.
Finally the decision having been made it is time for all parties to be informed including the Princess. Initially she rails against the decision in a petulant and unseemly manner before her mother, older and wiser, reminds her that duty must come before love and that a successful union can be made with the inconvenient L word being necessary. It's worth noting that de Guise doesn't take it well either, nearly entering into a duel with the Prince.
Later we meet a the final piece in this love quintet, the Duc d'Anjou (Raphaël Personnaz - unfeasibly attractive to play the smallpox infested royal Prince from history books but there you go), commander of the monarchist armies during the Wars of Religion and architect of the Edict of Beaulieu establishing peace (for a bit), who is misdirected through the castle of Montpensier by de Guise and promptly decides to attempt to woo the Princess as a mistress, inviting her through his mother, Catherine d'Medici, the de facto head of state in France.
All this and we're still only halfway through the film. All this may appear to add up to a complex and unyielding plot, however whilst it moves on at a pace with the characters shifting their loyalties on a regular basis, all of the individuals are so well defined, with their weaknesses and motivations so clear these machinations become organic and often understandable. Each of the men using the full reach of their power or influence to try to persuade the Princess of their innermost desires.
Thierry gives a fine central performance, at once headstrong and passionate and yet her attitude changes throughout the piece, revealing the sheer force of society in taming her. Among the men Wilson and Personnaz do fine work but it's the cuckold Leprince-Ringuet who steals the plaudits in my eyes, he is a proud and haunted figure unable to grasp his wife's lack of loyalty, given to melancholy and a depth of emotion that pushes through the language barrier.
Of course when you watch a film like this it's hard not to focus on the fine technical work from the costume design department and the fine location work (much of the film was shot on external locations). Phillippe Sarde's score was also suitable resounding, although not as memorable as his work for Tess. There is also a telling amount of period detail, confirming the painstaking research from the writing team, everything from contemporary recipes for eels in garlic, to the rituals of the marital bed even the importance of astrology drift through the action and helping to contextualise the positions of the central characters. On a more artistic note the writing, even the subtitling, occasional veers towards the poetic, Chabannes in particular is prone to use beautiful prose and metaphor in his tutoring of the Princess, one speech in particular - ostensibly about the physics of celestial bodies yet also pertaining to the vagaries of the court - is a delicious soufflé of ideas in the mouth of Lambert.
Director Bertrand Tavernier, 70, may not be the angry young auteur he once was, however this bodice ripper with a brain proves he still got it where it counts. I'd heartily recommend this movie, however much the combination of French and History scares you.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Princesse de Montpensier
Friday, 8 July 2011
Illuminating the Almighty (Out this week - 08/07/11)
This week I'm all about joining the conversation. Everytime Terence Malick makes a movie it's front page news, the masterful arthouse agitator is able to present concepts that few understand let alone consider when going to the local multiplex. It's an odd week for films otherwise with the gap between Transformers and Harry Potter being curiously empty of big box office releases meaning anything could happen at the top of the chart. I confess I'm wary about the film, but I will go and film of the week must therefore be: The Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life
It's the most talked about movie of 2011, and a cinematic marvel that has enraged and astounded critics in equal measure. Eschewing conventional narrative Malick charts the history of the universe and our relationship to God through the experiences of one family in small town America. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain are the twin forces of Nature and Grace (or Father and Mother) that battle for the control of their son Hunter McCracken, later Sean Penn.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Holy Rollers
Pleasing looking comedy with Jesse Eisenberg as an Hasidic jew, bored with his early twenties closeted life, finding himself embroiled in a smuggling ring carrying pot over international borders.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Super
The film that Kick-Ass could've been. With Rainn Wilson's fragile mental state tipping over the edge after his girlfriend leaves him and electing the way of the masked vigilante dishing out extreme violence. Ellen Page co-stars as his sidekick "Boltie".
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Film Socialisme
If you thought Terence Malick had the arthouse market cornered this week stand by for Jean-Luc Godard's symphony in three movements, where he explores his various passions with little linking structure to the snippets of conversations and moods he films. Godard (80) has threatened this will be his last movie so it could well be worth catching for that reason alone.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Princess de Montpensier
The film I really want to see next week looks like it may be the hardest to find, with a distinctly limited independent release pattern. Based on the true story of an affair that nearly ripped apart the French court, the film won dedicated admirers at Toronto last year.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sawako Decides
Japanese comic drama about female empowerment, certainly the most leftfield film to come from Japan this year it opens with a intimate scene of colonic irrigation.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Trust
Former "Friend" David Schwimmer continues to confound all expectations with his directorial career, shifting from Simon Pegg comedy Run Fatboy Run to this paedophilia drama, exhibiting the worst case scenario from teenagers dating on the net. Clive Owen and Catherine Keener (as the parents) headline the cast that also includes Liana Liberato as the vulnerable daughter and Viola Davis.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Devil's Rock
New Zealander horror movie, set on the channel islands during the second world war with two Kiwi commandos uncovering a secret Nazi occult plot. Sounds like a well-worn cliche of a plot, but there must be an audience for this sort of thing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Murder 2
Bollywood sequel to the 2004 film "Murder", which at least makes sense of the title.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○p
Venghai
Tamil action thriller that translates to Leopard and involves Dhanush rising up against his aggressors like the invoked big cat.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○p
Huge
Film about stand-up, starring a whole host of stars of the British comedy circuit, that somehow fails to be either funny or insightful about the cutthroat business. Probably best avoided.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
There's something odd going on in the world of Bollywood releases, with a large number of smaller films getting a limited release at a couple of cinema over the next week or so. I've seperated them from the wide releases and included only the most basic plot descriptions (sorry about that), hopefully if you're interested you'll still want to find out more.
Rang Rasiya
Biopic of 19th century Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma. In Hindi, originally released in 2008.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Veettilekkulla Vazhi
Malayalam movie about a doctor reuniting the 5 year old child of a terrorist who dies in his care with their father.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Tuesday Trailers - Princess de Montpensier
I don't get excited about many foreign language films, even those that make it as film of the week are usually only included as nothing else is worthy of attention, however I am really interested in seeing this French corset drama about an affair with repercussions to spread through the Republic. Positive reviews from Toronto last year and a respectable US take have convinced me this is the sword fighting epic that means I won't have to watch The Three Musketeers!
Princess de Montpensier opens on 08 July 2011.
