Jeanne du Barry movie shares an interesting French history chapter. When you look back and judge it by today’s standards, then certainly, it was not the best of times and the place.
This movie depicts the incredible rise and fall of Jeanne Bécu (or Jeanne du Barry) in French society of the late 18th century. Although she was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743, she reached an influential position. In her eventful life, she went on to rise through the Court of Louis XV to become his last official mistress.
Synopsis of the Jeanne du Barry (2023) Movie
Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a working-class woman determined to climb the social ladder, uses her charms to escape her impoverished condition. Her lover, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud), grown rich thanks to Jeanne’s amorous intrigues, wishes to present her to King Louis XV (Johnny Depp) and orchestrates a meeting through the influential Duke of Richelieu (Pierre Richard).
The encounter goes far beyond his expectations: for Louis XV (Johnny Depp) and Jeanne (Maïwenn), it’s love at first sight. Through the courtesan, the king rediscovers his appetite for life: so much that he can no longer live without her and decides to make her his official favorite. Scandal ensues. No one wants a girl from the streets at Court.
Spoiler Free Review of the Jeanne du Barry (2023) Movie
The introduction
This historical biopic is about Jeanne du Barry, whose amazing rise and sudden fall are depicted in it. As, this extravagant film based on real-life events is fit for history buffs, especially, those who wish to learn about the collapse of the monarchy in that era. Thus, this historical drama touches upon the various issues that afflicted the monarchy. And in a way, it hastened the process of the decay and the demise of the monarchy in France.
If I have chosen to focus the story on the relationship between Jeanne and Louis XV, it is because it is the one that led to her downfall and because everything that followed her departure from Versailles was the direct result of that period, from which she emerged with a label that would never leave her: the king’s whore.
Maïwenn | Elle
But I am convinced that she didn’t deserve to be reduced like that. This is why I also talk, albeit briefly, about her childhood, her youth and what happens after the monarch’s death. Throughout all my reading, one book particularly moved me, written about her by the Goncourt brothers, because it was totally and gratuitously positioned against her. Interestingly, the more time passes, the more laudatory the portraits of Jeanne become.
Kudos to Maiwenn for wearing so many hats in the film.
Kudos to Maïwenn, the lead actress as well as the director of the film. No doubt, she has put in a lot of effort to bring this periodic love story that transcended all kinds of bonds through her character Jeanne du Barry. She has masterfully used the tragic character of Jeanne to weave an inspired tale about the ruling upper-class society of that era.
Maïwenn co-wrote, co-produced, directed and starred as the title role in the film. She later admitted that this was too much for her, and swore to never direct and star at the same time in a movie again.
Imparts a good lesson on lavish lifestyle, royal traditions, etc.
Her splendid team of dresses (gowns, hairstyles, etc.) and set designers of the historical places did well. Thanks to them, we get to see many new sides of the French luxury lifestyle. Also, they used the real locations of the Palaces for film-shooting. Therefore, its cinematography showed us beautiful shots of the Palace of Versailles.
We saw its exteriors, the Royal Chapel, the Hall of Mirrors, the Hall of Hercules, etc in this film. It was nice to see the opulent lifestyle of the French Royalty on the screen. However, They shot many of the scenes in the sets. Maybe, because of strict restrictions on shooting at such popular palaces, open to tourists.
Amazing, the Hollywood actor Johnny Depp speaks French and looks like a French royal
We got to peek into the luxurious lifestyle of King Louis XV in this film. The French king with so many flaws – if we judge him by today’s standards. The famous Hollywood actor Johnny Depp speaks fluent French in it. For us, it was a pleasant surprise. He played his part well and kept us engaged in this slow-moving tale. No doubt, we loved his eloquent French.
Bonus info.:- When director Maïwenn approached Johnny Depp for the role of King Louis XV, Depp asked her if she was sure about casting an American for a French king. Maiwenn assured him she was sure. Depp is an American actor born in Owensboro, Kentucky. For their first meeting, Depp and Maiwenn conversed entirely in French which went on for hours. It is the first film Johnny Depp has starred in where he speaks entirely in French.
As a French King, he seemed oblivious to the decaying and crumbling aspect of the royal institutions. Perhaps, his ignorance was the harsh reality that led to the French Revolution.
The conclusion
It is an elaborate costume drama. Besides, we get to witness the strict adherence to the well-established rituals in the King’s court. The smart and funny one-liners, along with their humour kept us entertained. We enjoyed this different kind of period film. One could watch it to learn a few things about the history of France.
Ratings of the Jeanne du Barry (2023) Movie
| FM Ratings | 3.40/5 |
| FM Short Comments | The meandering pace and lack of drama in this historical tale bring it a notch down. Still, this interesting costume history film is worth a view. |
Spoilers Alert – the fate of the main characters in this French historical
The Fate of the Jeanne du Barry
Her history
Well, according to the Britannica website, Jeanne du Barry (or Jeanne Bécu), the Countess du Barry (born August 19, 1743, Vaucouleurs, France—died December 8, 1793, Paris) was the last of the mistresses of the French King Louis XV (reigned 1715–74). Although she exercised little political influence at the French court, her unpopularity contributed to the decline of the crown’s prestige in the early 1770s.
Her fate
After the death of Louis XV (May 1774) and the accession of Louis XVI, Madame du Barry was banished to a nunnery. So, from 1776 until the outbreak of the French Revolution she lived on her estates with the Duke de Brissac. later on in 1792, she made several trips to London, probably to give financial aid to French émigrés. However, she was condemned as a counterrevolutionary by the Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris in December 1793, and she was guillotined.
Info. Source: Jeanne Bécu, countess du Barry | Britannica
The Fate of the French King Louis XV
His – history & fate
According to the Britannica website, Louis XV (born February 15, 1710, Versailles, France—died May 10, 1774, Versailles) was king of France from 1715 to 1774. His ineffectual rule contributed to the decline of royal authority which led to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. Louis XV’s long reign had been marked by a decline in the crown’s moral and political authority, as well as by reverses in foreign and military affairs. The king died in 1774, hated as much as Louis XIV had been.
Info. Source: Louis XV – King of France | Britannica
The Fate of the Marie-Antoinette
Her history
According to the Britannica website, Marie-Antoinette (born November 2, 1755, in Vienna, Austria—died October 16, 1793, in Paris, France) was Austrian queen consort of King Louis XVI of France (1774–93). Her name is associated with the decline in the moral authority of the French monarchy in the closing years of the ancien régime, though her courtly extravagance was a minor cause of the financial disorders of the French state in that period. The popular hatred of the queen provided impetus for the storming of the Tuileries Palace and the overthrow of the monarchy on August 10, 1792.
Her fate
After the French monarchy was overthrown, Marie Antoinette spent the remainder of her life in Parisian prisons. Louis XVI was executed on orders from the National Convention in January 1793, and in August the queen was put in solitary confinement in the Conciergerie. She was brought before the Revolutionary tribunal on October 14, 1793, and was guillotined two days later.
Info. Source: Marie-Antoinette – Queen of France | Britannica
Poster of the Jeanne du Barry (2023) Movie
Key Details of the Jeanne du Barry (2023) Movie
| Genre | Biography, Drama, History |
| Original language | French |
| Duration | 1 hour 56 minutes |
| Writers | Maïwenn, Teddy Lussi-Modest, & Nicolas Livecchi |
| Director | Maïwenn |
| Cast | Maïwenn (Jeanne du Barry), Johnny Depp (Louis XV), Benjamin Lavernhe (La Borde), Melvil Poupaud (Comte du Barry), Robin Renucci (Dumousseaux), Pierre Richard (Duc de Richelieu), Pauline Pollmann (Marie-Antoinette), etc. |
| Distributor | Le Pacte |
A clip from the Jeanne du Barry (2023) Movie
Featured Image and Poster of the Jeanne du Barry (2023) Movie | Pics. Credit: Le Pacte