By Sara Bright
Jeanne du Barry is a film that is not afraid to tell and show the audience the truth and the tragedy of the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry, one of the most famous and infamous royal mistresses in French history. The film, which is directed by Sofia Coppola and written by Emma Donoghue, is a biopic and a drama that follows the story of Jeanne du Barry, played by Margot Robbie, who rose from a humble and obscure background to become the last and the most beloved mistress of King Louis XV, played by Christoph Waltz. The film, which is set in the 18th century, but also flashes forward to the 19th century, depicts and explores the themes and the topics of love, power, beauty, and fate, and how they shaped and affected the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry.
In this article, we will review and analyse Jeanne du Barry, and why it is a film that deserves the attention and the praise that it has received, and that deserves the title and the mantle of the editor’s choice. We will examine the plot and the characters, the style and the tone, and the themes and the messages of the film. We will also provide our personal opinion and rating of the film, based on our own viewing and experience, and invite the readers to share their own views and comments.
The Plot and the Characters of Jeanne du Barry
The plot of Jeanne du Barry is a captivating and compelling story, that combines and contrasts the genres and the styles of biopic and drama, of romance and tragedy, of history and fiction. The plot, which is based on and inspired by the historical and the fictional sources and accounts of the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry, is a rich and complex narrative, that keeps the audience engaged and interested, and that surprises and moves them with unexpected and emotional events and moments.
The plot follows the story of Jeanne du Barry, who was born as Jeanne Bécu, the illegitimate daughter of a seamstress and a monk, who grew up in poverty and obscurity in Paris. Jeanne, who was gifted and cursed with a stunning and irresistible beauty, was noticed and recruited by a brothel owner, Madame du Barry, played by Helen Mirren, who trained and groomed her to become a courtesan and a spy. Jeanne, who adopted the name and the identity of Madame du Barry’s daughter, soon caught the eye and the heart of King Louis XV, who was bored and lonely in his old age, and who made her his official and his favourite mistress, despite the opposition and the scandal of the court and the society. Jeanne, who enjoyed and endured the privileges and the perils of being the king’s mistress, also developed and displayed a genuine and a generous love and loyalty for the king, and a sincere and a compassionate care and concern for the people. Jeanne, who also faced and fought the enemies and the rivals, such as Madame de Pompadour, played by Nicole Kidman, and Marie Antoinette, played by Saoirse Ronan, who wanted to destroy and replace her, also witnessed and experienced the rise and the fall of the monarchy, and the outbreak and the aftermath of the French Revolution, which ultimately led to her arrest and execution by the guillotine.
The characters of Jeanne du Barry are well-written and well-acted, and they add depth and dimension to the plot and the film. The characters, who are based on and inspired by the real and the fictional characters and figures in the French history and culture, are realistic and complex, and they have their own motivations and flaws, and their own strengths and weaknesses.
The main character, Jeanne du Barry, played by Margot Robbie, is a fascinating and relatable protagonist, who is both a victim and a survivor, a lover and a fighter, a sinner and a saint. Jeanne, who is portrayed by Robbie with a mix of charm and grace, of passion and courage, of innocence and wisdom, is a character who captivates and inspires the audience, and who makes them empathise and sympathise with her actions and decisions. Jeanne, who is also a flawed and conflicted character, who faces and struggles with some personal and professional issues and dilemmas, such as her identity and her origin, her love and her duty, her morality and her ambition, her loyalty and her betrayal, is a character who grows and evolves throughout the film, and who learns and discovers some truths and lessons about herself and the world.
The other characters, such as King Louis XV, played by Christoph Waltz, Madame du Barry, played by Helen Mirren, Madame de Pompadour, played by Nicole Kidman, and Marie Antoinette, played by Saoirse Ronan, are also interesting and intriguing characters, who add contrast and conflict to the plot and the film. The characters, who are portrayed by the actors with a range of skill and charisma, of subtlety and intensity, of humour and drama, are characters who represent and reflect some of the themes and the messages of the film, such as the love and the power, the beauty and the fate, the privilege and the peril, of being a royal mistress in France.
The Style and the Tone of Jeanne du Barry
The style and the tone of Jeanne du Barry are a beautiful and elegant work of filmmaking, that showcase and highlight the talents and the visions of the director and the writer of the film, Sofia Coppola and Emma Donoghue. The style and the tone, which are influenced and inspired by some of the classic and contemporary films and genres of biopic and drama, such as Marie Antoinette, The Favourite, and The Duchess, are a blend and a balance of realism and stylisation, of drama and romance, of history and fiction.
The style of Jeanne du Barry is a stunning and sophisticated work of cinematography, production design, and costume design, that create and enhance the atmosphere and the mood of the film. The style, which is created and executed by Coppola and her team of experts and specialists, is a lavish and luxurious work of visual art, that use and manipulate the elements and the techniques of colour, lighting, camera, and music, to convey and communicate the themes and the messages of the film. The style, which is also a contrast and a comparison of the different settings and periods of the film, such as the Parisian streets and the Versailles palace, the 18th century and the 19th century, the old regime and the new order, is a work of detail and symbolism, that invite and encourage the audience to pay attention and to analyse the film.
The tone of Jeanne du Barry is a dramatic and romantic work of humour and emotion, that engage and entertain the audience, and that depict and explore the realities and the issues of the film. The tone, which is written and crafted by Donoghue and her team of writers and consultants, is a smart and sharp work of dialogue and narration, that use and employ the elements and the techniques of irony and wit, of sarcasm and humour, of suspense and surprise, to critique and comment on the topics and the trends of the film. The tone, which is also a mix and a match of the genres and the styles of biopic and drama, of romance and tragedy, of history and fiction, is a work of balance and contrast, that make the audience laugh and cry, and think and feel.
The Themes and the Messages of Jeanne du Barry
The themes and the messages of Jeanne du Barry are a relevant and meaningful work of art, that reflect and respond to the current and the historical events and trends in the French history and culture, and in the society and the culture at large. The themes and the messages, which are based on and derived from the historical and the fictional sources and accounts of the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry, are a commentary and a critique on the love, power, beauty, and fate, and how they shaped and affected the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry.
Some of the themes and the messages of Jeanne du Barry include:
- The love and the power of Jeanne du Barry, and how she experienced and expressed, or lacked and lost, the love and the power, in her personal and professional relationships, such as with King Louis XV, Madame du Barry, Madame de Pompadour, and Marie Antoinette, and how she used and abused, or was used and abused, by the love and the power, in her role and position as the royal mistress, and in her involvement and influence in the politics and the affairs of the court and the country.
- The beauty and the fate of Jeanne du Barry, and how she was gifted and cursed, or blessed and doomed, by the beauty and the fate, in her life and career, such as her rise and fall, her fame and fortune, her happiness and misery, her glory and tragedy, and how she embraced and enjoyed, or rejected and regretted, the beauty and the fate, in her choices and actions, such as her ambition and loyalty, her morality and vanity, her courage and fear, her sacrifice and survival.
The Conclusion and the Verdict of Jeanne du Barry
Jeanne du Barry is a film that is not afraid to tell and show the audience the truth and the tragedy of the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry, one of the most famous and infamous royal mistresses in French history. The film, which is directed by Sofia Coppola and written by Emma Donoghue, is a biopic and a drama that follows the story of Jeanne du Barry, played by Margot Robbie, who rose from a humble and obscure background to become the last and the most beloved mistress of King Louis XV, played by Christoph Waltz. The film, which is set in the 18th century, but also flashes forward to the 19th century, depicts and explores the themes and the topics of love, power, beauty, and fate, and how they shaped and affected the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry.
The conclusion and the verdict of Jeanne du Barry is that it is a fearless and fascinating film that portrays the life and the death of a French royal mistress with realism and emotion. The film is a masterful and original work of filmmaking, that showcases and highlights the talents and the visions of the director and the writer of the film, Sofia Coppola and Emma Donoghue. The film is also a powerful and poignant work of storytelling, that showcases and highlights the talents and the voices of the actors and the actresses, who bring to life the characters and the stories, and who make us empathise and sympathise with them.
The film is also a relevant and meaningful work of art, that reflects and responds to the current and the historical events and trends in the French history and culture, and in the society and the culture at large. The film is also a commentary and a critique on the love, power, beauty, and fate, and how they shaped and affected the life and the death of Jeanne du Barry, and how they affect and influence us today.
We highly recommend and praise Jeanne du Barry, and we think that it is one of the best and most important films of the year. We also congratulate and thank Sofia Coppola and Emma Donoghue, and the cast and the crew of the film, for their amazing and admirable work and contribution to the film industry and to the society. We also invite and encourage the readers to watch and enjoy the film, and to share their own views and comments.