Chichester Cinema at New Park
The Princess of Montpensier
Bertrand Tavernier's gripping, superbly mounted drama set against the savage Catholic/Protestant wars that ripped France apart in the 16th century.
Based on a novella by the celebrated Madame de Lafayette, the action centres on the love of Marie de Mezières (Mélanie Thierry) for her dashing cousin Henri de Guise (Gaspard Ulliel), thwarted when her father's political ambitions force her into marriage with the well-connected Philippe de Montpensier (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet), who she has never met.
When Philippe is called away to fight, she is left in the care of Count Chabannes (Lambert Wilson), an aging nobleman with a disdain for warfare, and soon becomes exposed to the sexual and political intrigues of court. With this film, Tavernier pokes a real hole in costumed romance. Everything feels all too real here. There is little room for grand gestures or noble sentiments. Combat is nasty and obscene. Despite this - or perhaps because of it – ‘The Princess of Montpensier’ is one of the finest costume dramas in a long while. The production is superb with fine cinematography and costume design, while Philippe Sarde's score suggests the music of the period. (subtitles)
France · 2010 · Bertrand Tavernier · 139min
