Marquise

I wasn't interested in the story, mainly because I didn't see the point. Sophie Marceau is the only bright sight in the movie.

The first virtue is the performance , beautiful at whole, of Bernard Girodeau as Moliere. He gives the playwriter so well known by his admirers. The second, off course, Sophie Marceau . And, sure, the tension , familiar in its traits for the fans of French historical drama. A film about theater, love and rivalry, giving slices from Moliere and Racine, proposing the embroidery of rising and fall of an actress . So, just beautiful.

"Marquise" is refreshing since it's one of the rare history movie that isn't done from a celebrity point of view like Molière, Racine, Corneille, La Reine Margot, François 1er, Columbus, etc. The marquise isn't a well-known character of the History but she does lives among the nobles. This makes her experience of the rich world more interesting since she always has to fight to stay in it and maintain her popularity. Truly, a must for history and culture fans.

Sophie Marceau, in her two previous outings in period costume--Chouans! and La fille de d'Artagnan--showed us how well she could play historical subjects. Marquise died young, only 35, but had enough time to vault to the top of the theatrical profession. She was the lover of both Moliere and Racine, to whom she bore a son. The film moves along at a brisk pace with so much material to cover, and Bernard Giraudeau as Moliere, and Lambert Wilson as Racine give Marceau solid support. Patrick Timsit as Gros-Rene has the most inventive death scene I can remember, it's fabulous.

It is so nice to see a person encouraged to follow her dream - despite opposition from others, and despite having to overcome her own fears at times. The ending is sad but it fits with the film's whole tragic theme, and works well as the play-within-a-play. Excellent performances by Marceau and Giraudeau (as Moliere). Excellent insight into the lives of travelling players, and Louis XIV's era.