Jeanne du Barry

Jeanne du Barry is a biographical film that tells the life and fate of Marie-Jeanne Bécu, a young woman of humble origins who becomes the favorite of King Louis XV of France. The film is directed by Maïwenn, who also plays the protagonist, and features Johnny Depp in the role of the sovereign.

The film opens with Jeanne’s arrival at Versailles, where she is introduced to the king by Jean-Baptiste du Barry, a nobleman who has taken her under his protection. The king is immediately fascinated by her beauty and liveliness, and offers her to become his official mistress. Jeanne accepts, but has to face the hostility of the court, which despises her for her bourgeois origin and for her role as an intruder. Among her enemies are the Duke of Richelieu, who plots to make her fall into disgrace, and Marie Antoinette, the future queen, who considers her a rival.

Jeanne does not let herself be intimidated and tries to use her power to help the French people, who suffer from hunger and taxes imposed by the government. She thus earns the sympathy of some enlightened nobles, such as the Count of Mercy-Argenteau and the Duke of Aiguillon, who offer her their support. Jeanne also falls in love with the king, who shows her affection and respect, and who gives her jewels and lavish clothes.

However, the film also shows the dark side of Jeanne’s life, which she has to endure public humiliations, slanders and threats. The film does not hide the flaws of the king either, who appears as a weak, sick and spoiled man, unable to rule with wisdom and justice. The film ends with the death of the king in 1774, which marks the end of Jeanne’s reign. The woman is driven away from Versailles and forced to retire to a convent. The film implies that her fate will be tragic, as she will be guillotined during the French Revolution.

The film is an intense and passionate portrait of a woman who defied social conventions and tried to change the world with her love. Maïwenn plays Jeanne with skill and charisma, making her a complex and multifaceted figure. Johnny Depp is convincing in the role of Louis XV, showing both his charm and his fragility. The film is also an accurate and spectacular historical reconstruction of the era of the French Regency, with sumptuous sets and costumes.

Jeanne du Barry is a film that deserves to be seen for its artistic quality and its universal message. It is a film that celebrates the strength and freedom of women, but also their vulnerability and sacrifice. It is a film that makes us reflect on the power and responsibility of rulers, but also on the hope and rebellion of the ruled.