marieantoinette

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Marie Antoinette

written by Nobuhiro Hosoki

it's a daunting task when you slice through a biography of one of the most well-known historical figure without using any significant event that seize them. That is the path paved by director Sofia Coppola for bringing us the unimaginative circumstances of a pampered princess. At the radiating-innocence age of 14, she was thrust into an arranged marriage so an heir could be conceived to solidify an alliance between Austria and France.

Throwing away her every possession, even including her loving dog, she takes on all the duties and protocol
of her position while simultaneously being attentive to her husband Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman).But she gets an occasional cold shoulder by his preference of locks and keys over her--one that leads to seven years of an unconsummated relation, putting a diplomatic union in danger.

This harmony of disaffection and standoffishness is mixed with the series of scenes of her confidante kneeling down to dress her, of stuffing pastry and having a lavish party throughout the film. Everyone at Versailles is self-absoorbed with the courtship, not noticing the outside world. Kirsten Dunst is picture-perfect for playing a dimwit queen full of emotion who is not yet ready for mature deeds. D.P Lance Cord's frequent hand-held camera shots, which totally avoid the conventional dolly shots we see in these typical period pieces, add a touch of authenticity, as does full access to Versailles as a setting.

Director Sofia Coppola draws from Antonia Frazer's biography. concentrating on feminism and chucking typical history book material about guillotines and such. This is a contemporary approach that concentrates on the new-wave song that lets us perceive the excess of the delicate queen's mindset by slowing submerging us into a dream state. Coppola makes her artistic signature by stepping in where her father had made his bold attempts.

In the end, the question is raised by history buffs and testosterone junkies--"Why the historical event are omitted?" To that, all I can say is, "Doesn't history repeat itself? Hey look, Paris Hilton." It's Coppola's intention that sugarless pastries are suddenly handed to us.

Directed by Sofia Coppola
written by Ms. Coppola
Based on the book by Antonia Fraser
Director of photography: Lance Acord
Edited by Sarah Flack
Production designer: K K Barrett
Produced by Ms. Coppola and Ross Katz
Released by Columbia Pictures.
Running time: 123 minutes.

Cast: Kirsten Dunst (Marie Antoinette)
Jason Schwartzman (King Louis XVI)
Rip Torn (King Louis XV)
Judy Davis (Comtesse de Noailles)
Asia Argento (Madame du Barry)
Marianne Faithfull (Empress Maria Teresa)
Danny Huston (Joseph)
Molly Shannon (Aunt Victoire)
Steve Coogan (Count Mercy D’Argenteau)
Rose Byrne (Duchesse de Polignac)
, and Shirley Henderson (Aunt Sophie).