Director: Patrice Chéreau

Some of the Cast
Isabelle Adjani ... Margot
Daniel Auteuil ... Henri of Navarre
Jean-Hugues Anglade ... Charles IX
Vincent Perez ... La Mole
Virna Lisi ... Catherine of Medici
Dominique Blanc ... Henriette of Nevers

Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
The Story
As with most historical movies, some knowledge of the background is helpful. The following is translated from the film itself:

1572. France is torn apart. For years two factions have been opposing and killing each other: the Catholics, led by the Duc de Guise, and the Protestants, under Admiral de Coligny. There are three brothers, Charles (the oldest and heir to the throne), Anjou, his younger brother, and Alencon, the youngest. They love their sister, Margot. They love her too much.

The head of this family is Catherine de Medici, who is ruling in Charles' place. She prefers Anjou and wants to offer him a kingdom at peace. She hopes to reunite the French by giving her daughter, Margot, in marriage to Henri de Navarre. He is Protestant, she is Catholic - it is a State issue. A union of peace?

The marriage of Margot (Isabelle Adjani) to Henri de Navarre (Daniel Auteuil) is imminent. Paris has been 'invaded' by Protestant supporters who mingle with the Catholics prior to the event. Tensions are running high. Although the union has been justified as a measure for peace, no one really believes it, least of all Margot herself.

The stunning ceremony is held in an immense cathedral (Notre Dame?) complete with choirs, everyone resplendent in 16th century garb, and funereal aura surrounding the occasion. When Margot does not answer the question: "Do you take Henri de Navarre for your lawful wedded husband?" her head is pushed violently down from behind and her ensuing gasp of shock taken as assent.

So much for the royal marriage - already off to a shaky start - as Margot abandons Henri on their wedding night, wandering the Paris streets, masked and accompanied by one of her ladies-in-waiting, looking for a lover. She finds one, readily enough, in de la Mole – a soldier and one of the Protestant visitors - who is willing and able. As can be seen from the outset, Margot just like a pute - prostitute - a reputation which follows her throughout the action. (The leader of the Catholics, de Guise, is also known to be her lover.)

Henri de Navarre, as much a pawn as Margot, implores her to join forces with him to outwit the scheming Catherine de Medici (Virna Lisi). He can see that Margot's brothers will be incited to kill him, and ultimately this "marriage of peace" will prove to be meaningless. She refuses, contemptuously; to her, he is nothing more than a peasant from the provinces.

The Catholics, unhappy with the alliance, are dying for an excuse to wage war on the black-garbed Huguenots ("cockroaches" the Catholics call them) and when de Coligny (the Protestant leader) is shot, the backlash is immediate. Catherine's sons decide to massacre all the Protestants, leaving no witnesses, and the bloodletting begins. More than 6,000 people are killed, and this slaughter is known as the Massacre of St Bartholéemy.

Somehow, amidst the chaos, Margot's lover - bleeding and near death - finds his way to her and she takes care of him. The bond she has with him will eventually cause her to view her Protestant husband differently and lead them to a reconciliation. Thus she persuades Henri to convert to Catholicism in a pragmatic move to save his life.

The film goes on to portray the various wheelings and dealings of the Catholic and Protestant leaders, and with Catherine's futile attempts to poison her perceived enemies.

Analysis
The foregoing is but a brief overview of a very long and complex movie, which in all honesty would appeal mainly to historical enthusiasts and Francophiles. In any event, the film packs a punch.

For a start, two screen giants of contemporary French cinema - Adjani and Auteuil - give their characterisations depth and insight against a realistic and horrendous backdrop of mediaeval madness, sixteenth-century Paris, and religious fanaticism. Adjani combines the right amount of royal sluttishness with the class she invariably brings to all her roles. Her character is luminous, beautiful, debauched, yet displaying unbounded courage and integrity (evident only later in the film). Auteuil is endearing, touching and genuine in as Henri - scorned by his unwilling bride, but believing that with a concerted effort they can change their destinies and ultimately find peace together.

The supporting roles are also well acted, with Virna Lisi outstanding as the sepulchral, sinister Catherine and Jean-Hugues Anglade as the wimpish Charles IX.

The film gives an ironic slant to the issue of religion and love, with both Catholics and Protestants portrayed as equally bloodthirsty, fanatical and intransigent. In one scene, a Catholic is about to slash the throat of a Protestant whom he is vainly trying to convert at the last minutes, chanting Latin as he does so. The hatred which festers between the opposing camps, the piles of bodies which litter the streets, eventually carted away and dumped into pits, are reminiscent of the Nazi era, and one wonders if civilisation has really advanced after all.

The costumes are wonderful, the re-creation of that bloody era is graphically and unforgivingly convincing, as is the sense of madness which pervaded at the time.

Is there a message in this film, apart from the obvious? The issue of bonding between people of different faiths is addressed with sensitivity and verisimilitude: de la Mole finds himself in a death cart with a Catholic he believes he has killed, both of them survive and become close. Margot, already linked emotionally to de la Mole, and appalled by the violence perpetrated on the visiting Protestants, finally turns to her husband in a realisation that she may find a certain peace with him after all.

I would not recommend this film for mainstream viewers, but if you are a bit adventurous, aren't afraid of historical reality and enjoy French cinema, I would say, yes, give it a try.

Definitely NOT for kids!


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: None of the Above
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age