France, Italy, 2023, history, drama, director: Gianluca Iodiche, starring: Guillaume Canet, Mélanie Laurent, Aurora Brutin.
I'm not a fan of movies that don't show the whole story, especially when they're about important historical events. The film we're talking about is set in the final days of the French monarchy, with King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette as the main characters. They, along with their kids, get arrested and locked up in the Temple Tower prison, waiting for their trial. It's a really significant moment in history, and I think it's a shame when movies don't do it justice by leaving out important parts of the story. The Temple Tower prison is where they were held, and it's a pretty famous place in French history. I wish the movie had shown more of what really happened back then, instead of just giving us a partial view of things.
The film's director pulls out all the stops to tug at the viewer's heartstrings. We see the humble, kind-hearted, and insecure king showing a filmstrip to some children, depicting a heart-wrenching scene where a ferocious beast sets free a family of impoverished mice who were being held captive. Meanwhile, the queen is on a mission to find a sense of normalcy, inquiring with a guard about the possibility of purchasing a modest home where they can live like ordinary people, free from the trappings of royalty. And then, there's the king, attempting to help a poor man overcome his obsession with gold, a poignant moment that highlights the monarch's compassionate nature. As the story unfolds, the director masterfully weaves together these emotional vignettes, creating a cinematic experience that is both moving and thought-provoking. With each scene, the viewer is drawn deeper into the world of the film, invested in the characters and their struggles, and ultimately, left to ponder the profound implications of their stories.
You'd think they'd mention the famous phrase "let them eat cake" attributed to Marie Antoinette, but no, it's not even brought up. Instead, a guard blames Marie for his two-year-old son's death from hunger, and it's all so rushed, like it's no big deal. But what about the massive famine and bread riots that happened during the last years of Louis XVI's rule? What about the fact that the peasants and the common people, like the bourgeoisie, artisans, and workers, were shouldering almost all the tax burden, while the nobles and clergy got off scot-free? It's like these major issues are just swept under the rug. The phrase "let them eat cake" is often seen as a symbol of the callousness of the French monarchy, but it's actually a pretty complicated issue. Some people say Marie Antoinette never even said it, and it was just a way to villainize her. Anyway, it's weird that it's not even mentioned, considering how important it is to understanding the whole French Revolution thing.
The famous words of Maximilien Robespierre, a leading figure in the Jacobin regime, come to mind: "You can't rule without getting your hands dirty." In the movie, this is changed to "All kings are born guilty" - which, in a way, makes sense. But the filmmaker isn't really interested in exploring the idea that our actions have consequences. His movie is more about the bigger picture, rather than what happens when you reap what you sow.
The French Revolution, which initially sparked with the inspiring ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, sadly took a drastic turn, descending into a brutal dictatorship and widespread terror. It's almost as if this outcome was inevitable - when a new system is born from violence and bloodshed, it's only fitting that it would ultimately meet its end in a similar manner. The revolution's beginnings were marked by a sense of hope and promise, but as time went on, the very principles that had driven it forward began to crumble, giving way to a reign of fear and oppression. This darker side of the revolution is a sobering reminder that even the noblest of ideals can become twisted and distorted when taken to extremes.
However, it's also important not to swing to the opposite end of the spectrum and start glorifying the monarchy.
