Marie Antoinette Movie Review
Meghan Bamberger


Marie Antoinette, based on the book by Antonia Fraser and directed by Sofia Coppola, gives the compelling story of 14 year old Marie Antonia, the Archduchess of Austria, who is fated to become the Queen of France. The purpose of this movie is not to give an accurate historical reconstruction, but to show the woman behind the rumors. Visually stunning costumes and sets, along with a rock soundtrack carry this film from start to finish. Starring Kirsten Dunst as the fiery, ill-fated teenage queen betrothed to King Louis XVI, played by Jason Schwartzman. Marie Antoinette is cast off into the French Court at Versailles, which is full of conspiracy, scandal and malicious gossip. Without any counsel and few friends in her new home, she rebels against the process and in turn becomes France's most misunderstood monarch in history. Marie Antoinette's life became a myth and a legend all in one.
Whisked away from her family in Vienna at the tender age of 14, with no past possessions, she is taken to the court at Versailles's to meet her future husband the Dauphin of France. She is a puppet in an arranged marriage, to make an alliance between France and Austria. Both Marie Antoinette and her future husband are unprepared for the journey ahead and are nowhere near the rulers which the people of France yearn to have. Underneath this beautiful woman is a scared, sheltered and confused girl turned queen at the age of 18. Adding to the many trials of her new position, the marriage to Louis goes unconsummated for seven years, which marks concern that the pair will never produce an heir. Overwhelmed and never sure of her position and that of Austria she seeks refuge in the aristocracy of the French life and a love affair with the Swedish Count Ferson, played by Jamie Dornan. The many indiscretions of Marie Antoinettes life are soon the talk of France, both in and out of the court.
Either idolized for impeccable fashion sense or being torn apart for being out of touch with her subjects, any reaction to the mention of Marie Antoinette is always in extreme. As she matures she finds her way in life as a Queen, as a mother and as a wife only later to be swept into the bloody French revolution, to alter France forever. 
