Marie Antionette and corn-on-the-cob

Finally!!! We went to see the new Sophia Coppola film Marie Antionette last night. I have been reading the book for the last few weeks. I got suddenly very interested in this time period after reading "Sex With Kings" by Eleanor Herman, which is a history of various European mistresses, and the kings that loved them. So when I heard that Coppola's movie was based on the book by Antiona Fraser I decided to try and read it before the movie came out.
Antionette has gotten a lot of mixed reviews in the press. Coppola was given unprecedented access to Versailles and the Petit Trianon by the French to film the piece - apparently the country loved Lost in Translation and Sophia's own personal sense of fashion. However when they saw the result of her efforts at Cannes, there were more than a few up-turned noses and catcalls. Having read all about this I was nervous to see the film, afraid I wouldn't like it after having looked forward to its release for almost a year now. Thankfully - it was brilliant!
The fact that every shot is colourful and decadent should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen Coppola's other films (The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation). She did a wonderful job of recreating court life at Versailles. The costumes are a fantasy and there are at least two plates of incredible edibles (pastries, cookies, chocolates) in every scene. Everyone knows she can shoot a movie. The music was not a surprise either. From the 80s hit "I Want Candy" for the montage of her ladies gorging on cream filled delights to the haunting Aphex Twin number while she wonders innocently through her new quarters on her arrival at Versailles. Not only did the choices make the character more relatable but they just make you feel good. What I was not expecting was the dialogue. I would have missed this if I had not read the book, 95% of the lines were direct, historically accurate quotes. This is what excited me the most about the film. Sure she played contemporary music in with the classical choices and she allowed all of the actors to speak in their native accents (a' la Amadeus), you even get a glimpse of a blue Converse in one of the closet shots - but keeping the dialogue minimal enough to use accurate quotations was the most genius move. Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman acted their tales off portraying the emotions of teenage monarchs in the midst of personal and political turmoil. The gut wrenching grief of Marie's "inability to inspire passion in (her) husband" and the struggle of the two to consummate the marriage and produce an heir came across much better without invented language. Her loyalty in standing by her husband even as the angry French mob is banging down the doors of their home is touching - as is the haunting echoes of young Louis XVII's fearful cries as they await their fate in the nearly empty palace. Highly recommended. Feels good to have a healthy dose of history in with your hipster movie fare.


Oh.. and Oli got a new corn-on-the-cob bone :)