re:mote voices

Title: La Reine Margot
Cast: Isabelle Adjani, Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Vincent Perez, Virna Lisi, Asia Argento
Director: Patrice Chéreau

-one christmas years ago, i think it was bbc 2 showed a series of french films over the holiday period. during which i half caught la reine margot, which caught my attention enough that i though i should see it properly. for years i would pick it up on video and look at it, then put it back, because it was far too expensive to buy on video. however i finally found it for a reasonable price on dvd, and sat and watched it saturday afternoon.

-religious tensions threaten to tear france apart. to this end margot has been put up for marriage. the catholic king's sister is to be married to a protestant in the name of peace. the idea comes from the king's mother, who is a ferocious conspirator, determined to retain her power regardless of the costs. so while on the one hand she conspires to bring this marriage about she also plans to kill another prominent protestant and fresh adviser to the king.

-caught in the middle are margot and henri of navarre, margot a pawn in a marriage she doesn't want and her new husband henri a paranoid man that doesn't expect to survive the days that lie ahead. with the assasination attempt on the king's new adviser tensions rise, paris is filled with 1000's of protestants there for the wedding. revolution could errupt at any moment, and to prevent this the catholic powers decide on a massacre.

-in one night 6000 people are slaughtered. through this margot makes a wary alliance with her husband and falls in love with one of his fellow protestants. with the massacre done these survivors must walk carefully to survive the continuing plots.

-the film is lavish, detailed and evocative costumes are worn throughout. but it isn't too shiny like some period pieces can feel, there is a certain edge of squalor at points, and a definite brutality and bloodyness to the violence. la riene margot sweats with paranoia, informed by a sense of intrigue and potential for betrayal.

-to go with the look and feel of the film it has to be said that isabelle adjani, who plays margot, is stunning. a quick check to see what else adjani has done would seem to suggest that she was 39 when she made this film, which i find difficult to believe! daniel auteuil as henri brings to life the part of a paranoid man, a man on edge for a reason, a protestant caught in a catholic man trap. i was also bemused to spot asia argento in a small role, one which had passed me by on that previous half viewing.