LA REINE BLANCHE
France, 1991, 120 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Deneuve, Richard Bohringer, Jean Carmet, Bernard Girardeau.
Directed by Jean- Loup Hubert.
La Reine Blanche was written and directed by Jean- Loup Hubert, the maker of the very successful Le Grand Chemin (adapted in Hollywood for the Melanie Griffith- Don Johnson film Paradise).
The film is set in Nantes in 1960. The film evokes the atmosphere of the French provincial city, families, their workplaces, homes - and the annual carnival where the carnival queen is chosen and leads the procession of floats throughout the town.
The film focuses on Catherine Deneuve as a middle-aged mother, her family, an old suitor returning from Guadaloupe with his black wife and children. Tensions arise, lies from the past have their influence, jealousies and envies - as well as issues of class, racism. The film has a humane feeling - even exasperating its audiences as they respond to the loves, hatreds, petty jealousies and the resolution of the conflicts. The supporting cast is very good, including Richard Bohringer as the husband, Bernard Girardeau as the suitor, Jean Carmet as Catherine Deneuve's father.
1. Interesting humane drama? Themes of relationships, family, love, jealousy, pain?
2. The 1960s, the provincial city, its atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The title and its reference to Liliane, the carnival queen, her dress? To Mareille, the dress, chosen as queen, her mixed blood background?
4. The portrait of the family, Jean at work, his baths and salesmanship, his building of floats? His working with his father-in-law? Relationship with Liliane, his relationship with his children? The tension in the house, memories of the past, his rivalry? His being the solid suitor and Lucien allowing him to marry his daughter?
5. The picture of the young children, the family clashes and fights? Anne and her becoming friends with Mareille? The younger children antagonistic towards her brothers and sisters? The tension among the children reflecting that among the parents?
6. Catherine Deneuve's portrait of Liliane: cool, controlled? Her age, her choice in marriage? Managing the house, relationship with the children? Her love for Jean, the background of the courtship of Jean and Yvon? Her father in the house and her care for him? Her encounter with Yvon's wife, the market, the fruit and the pineapple? The invitation to lunch? The reaction to the fighting and the rivalry? Her being hurt? Leaving from the meal? Her ousting Jean from the house? Her father and the story of the payoff to Yvon? His apology? Yvon coming to the house, her getting out her Carnival Queen dress, wearing it? Her daughter's misunderstanding? The clash with Jean? His leaving, the effect on the family? Her love, his decision to leave, her having to grow up and face adulthood, her children - and her decision to search for Jean?
7. Jean and his anger, rivalry with Yvon, jealousy and suspicion? His talk with Yvon at home? Seeing his family? The lunch, the issue of Mareille being the queen? Jean's anger, taking the family away? His destroying the float? The decision to build the new float - and the irony of the white for Mareille? The discussions with Lucien? The memories of the past? His leaving the house, relationship with the children? Anne and the discussions about her mother? Suspicions, leaving? The visit to the brothel? The bar and the fight? Going to the contest, his response to Mareille's winning? Waving to her at the parade? Making peace with her? The decision to go - and make the parallel with Yvon of 20 years ago?
8. The portrait of Yvon, his past, the courtship of Liliane, Lucien paying him off, his going? Staying away? The West Indies, marrying his wife, his love for her, the children? The return, talking with Jean? Lucien showing him the float and his talking about it at the lunch? The lunch and his behaviour, alienating everyone? The clash with his wife? The visit to Liliane to apologise, her wearing the dress? His exhilaration with his daughter winning the competition? The visit to the brothel, the fight with Jean and his being knocked out? The end and the reconciliation?
9. Lucien, his love for his daughter, the two suitors, the decision in the past to choose Jean rather than Yvon? Staying in the house, helping with the work? With the grandchildren? His telling the truth? His support for Marielle and his enthusiasm at her winning the contest?
10. Anne and Marielle, their friendships, no rivalry, their ability to communicate? The possibilities of the next generation being more in harmony?
11. Class issues in provincial France in 1960?
12. Race issues in the France of 1960? The background of French colonisation, Indo-China?, Algeria?
13. A romantic look at the past, a sombre look at the failures of the past - hopes for understanding and reconciliation?
