MARIE-ANTOINETTE

I have infinite tenderness for Sofia Coppola’s “Marie-Antoinette”. The film, made in 2006, sets aside Stefan Zweig’s work and is based on the book by Antonia Fraser, which when published in 2001 had stirred the historic landernau. And for good reason: the novel and the film are extremely sensitive and take the party to apprehend, not a queen who has become a historical figure, but a woman in all her humanity.

Far from the sacred and statuesque idol, Sofia Coppola’s “Marie-Antoinette” is a woman of flesh and blood. Sofia Coppola lends Kirsten Dunst’s diaphanous features to this woman-child, who arrives in France at the age of 14 and who must, from her wedding night, consummate a union with a husband who is little concerned with matters of love and sex.

The film follows the torments of this young bride until she leaves Versailles for Paris, under the pressure of the rioting Parisians, and highlights the ultimately rather revolutionary character (no pun intended) of this queen.

A queen who has a lover (as we now it know, since recent technology made it possible to decipher the letters exchanged between Marie-Antoinette and Axel de Fersen), which is quite prodigious when we speak of a non-regent queen.

A queen who deserted the official palace of Versailles to flee to her Petit Trianon estate, to which, it is said, even the King did not have the key.

A queen who breaks free from the French dresscode to wear the so-called “creole” dress, which is much lighter. So light that it causes a scandal, even if it is otherwise trendy.

Beyond a concern for historical rectitude which is pointless here, Sofia Coppola has above all been able to capture the vibrant humanity and the thirst for freedom that drive this queen. And it is exceedingly touching.

The costumes in the movie are absolutely gorgeous. I dare admit to you here that I have been looking for old French dresses for many months, but what little remains is on display in museums. So here I am in a contemporary dress by Dior which has brought up to date the Toile de Jouy pattern so fashionable at the time of Marie-Antoinette – and in Bagatelle park – whose creation is intimately linked to the queen. Here are two versions of this dress, one worn with flat ballet shoes, the other one more sophisticated worn with high heels. Because why not.