JEANNE DU BARRY

France, 2023, 117 minutes, Colour.

Maiwenn, Johnny Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melville Poupaud, Robin rencci, Pierre Richard, Marianne Basler, Pascal Greggory.

Directed by Maiwenn.

Sets, costumes, the Palace of Versailles, the vast grounds, the magnificent interiors… All suggest the word “Sumptuous”. And, indeed, for any audience eager for looking at the sumptuous, this is a strong contender.

It is the story of a young illegitimate girl, her mother a cook, well educated at a convent, but a more worldly disposition, finding her way in Paris, a prostitute, attracting wealthy clientele, a courtesan. She attracts the attention of the wealthy Count du Barry, politicians and courtiers at the court of Louis XV promote her and, in the film, it is infatuation at first sight. The king has been licentious, many mistresses, and Jeanne takes her place, but a requirement for some acceptance of court is that she should be married and this is arranged with the consent of du Barry.

The screenplay is generally accurate (the Wikipedia entry on Jeanne du Barry is worth consulting for those interested in her). However, it traces the years with the King, her being despised by his haughty and racist daughters, though defended by the eventual Louis XVI, the growing influence on the king and his reliance on her, the enmity of Marie Antoinette, and the king’s eventual illness, death by smallpox, his having advised her to leave the court for her own safety.

Her subsequent life, not without intrigue, is not dramatised here.

This is the middle of the 18^th century, France having achieved extraordinary status and influence under the long reign of Louis XIV. Louis XV was far less interested in political affairs. As the film shows, the aristocratic class was in control, fawning on the king, enjoying a spectacularly wealthy lifestyle, caught up in protocols (even to what looks like a comic withdrawing from the King’s presence, backwards, little jumping steps…), ambitions, spite, intrigues, and a vast retinue off to hunt .

For audiences who are of an anti-Royal disposition, who are amazed at the lives of the arrogant and spoilt, the revolution could not come sooner! (And some of this attitude is voiced in the final comments before the credits.)

For many audiences, the casting is intriguing. Here is Johnny Depp again after many personal troubles, playing Louis XV, Depp now at 60 creates an impression of the king who presumes on his status, is not particularly interested in affairs of state, has a sexual appetite, but growing more self-absorbed and disdaining of his family as time goes on. Often he looks as forlorn as Depp did as Edward Scissorhands decades ago.

But, the attention is on Maiwenn, actress, director, who had a hand in the screenplay here, produces, directs, and takes the leading role. Chronologically she is far too old in fact for the role but, relishing it, she combines a love of luxury with a rather ironic detachment from the protocols of the court. She goes through the marriage with du Barry (a cynical Melville Poupaud), is presented with a black boy slave whom she mothers and promotes, establishes herself as indispensable to the King. And, as the film goes on, the audience can’t help liking her and her humorous disdain of expectations, and appreciating her sorrow at the King’s death.

There is a fine supporting cast of French veterans but the standout is the King’s valet, completely loyal, arranging everything the King wants, presenting a very detached demeanour, gradually very loyal to Jean, grief at the King’s death. He is played most effectively by Benjamin Lavernhe.

An immersion in the French court (rather than with the French populace) of the 18^th century.

1. A sumptuous historical immersion, Versailles in the 18^th century? Visually satisfying? Characters? Intrigues? Interactions? The accuracy of the storytelling?
2. Re-creation of period, costumes and decor, the grounds of Versailles, the exteriors, the interiors, lavish? Costumes? The musical score and atmosphere of the times?
3. Audience knowledge of the Countess du Barry? Of Louis XV and his reign? The impact of Louis XIV, decline in the 18^th century, foreshadowing the Revolution?
4. The voice-over, tone, indicating episodes, time passing, judgements on Jeannene and other characters?
5. The initial outline of her life, information about her parents, her mother, her work as a cook, her patron, is educating Jeanne, attachment, her going to the convent, the years with the nuns, her wide reading, “worldly”? Her being expelled, with her mother, the patron, his attachment, his wife? As a prostitute, her response, survival, increasing clientele, popularity, the brothel, du Barry and his attachment, Marshall Richelieu and the politicians and ambitions for her with the King? du Barry agreeing, her place in his home, the clashes between them?
6. Louis XV, wife, many children, licentious and mistresses, age, the pomp of Versailles, the minute protocols, courtiers and their ambitions, fawning on the king, his lack of interest in affairs of state? Hunting? Personality and manner?
7. Jeanne, in the line-up, the King passing, the long glimpse, the infatuation, calling for her? The initial encounters, her spirited response, mocking the steps backward? The king amused? The beginnings of the relationship? Her place in the court? The King’s daughters, other courtiers, jealousy and resentment? The scenes with them, their mockery, gossip? The daughter who supported Jeanne? Her retiring from the court and becoming a nun?
8. Jeanne as a character, personality, reading men, her experiences, talents, wiles? With the King, the presentation of Zamor and her attachment to him, mothering him, the reaction, racist, of the King’s daughters?
9. The character of Le Borde, his role as valet, arranging everything for the king, protocols, personal attention, procuring? His personality, not revealing emotions? His relationship with Jeanne, the formalities, his mellowing in behaviour, supporting her? The king and his dependence?
10. Jeanne and her care for du Barry’s son, Adolphe, her attachment, mothering, his responses to her, coming to court, possible engagement, the duel, his death? The grief of his father?
11. The years passing, the future Louis XVI and his defence of Jeanne? The arrival of Marie Antoinette, the gossips, poisoning her against Jeanne, the various strategies, arrange meetings, failures? Eventually Marie Antoinette commenting that there were many people at the palace, an indication of victory and acceptance, Jeannes joy?
12. The years passing, the king, other liaisons, the death of his wife, grief? The courtiers, the retinues for hunting? The politicians, their meetings, ruling the country? There intrigues?
13. The king, the smallpox, Jeanne unwelcome, Le Borde and his allowing her in, the scenes with the King, his urging her to leave for her own sake, the return farewell, the humour of her doing the backward steps, the reaction of the courtiers? His death?
14. The courtiers, the candle indicating was alive, blowing out the candle, response to his death? The accession of Louis XVI?
15. Jeanne, the years, her mother at court, the help of Le Borde, leaving Zamor, going on her way?
16. The final information, the intimations of the revolution, execution of the king, Marie Antoinette, and the execution of Jeanne herself and her association with Versailles?