FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1998 All Rights Reserved.
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| FILM Marquise Marquise is, ostensibly, the story of Marquise du Parc, a 17th century French actress who wins fame in the troupes of Moliere and Racine, and favor at the court of Louis XIV. Prostituted by her father, Marquise strives to make the transition from "dancer" to actor, despite Moliere's doubts about her abilities, and Louis's, Racine's, and nearly everyone else's focus on her physical charms. Unfortunately, Sophie Marceau, who plays Marquise, fights the same fight; director Véra Belmont mounts a costume-encrusted yawner that is little other than a setting for Marceau's pretty face. Overlong and overpopulated, the film is more of a pageant than a tale of feminist empowerment; underwritten, despite evoking the likes of Moliere and Racine, the movie lacks the wit to move beyond Marquise's sexual coups to adequately explore her attempts to be taken seriously as an artist. On top of everything, Marceau is a dubious actor; the filmmakers exploit the same pimping instincts the movie purports to decry. Looks and style are what the film is about. The poor here are uniformed in navy blue and seem harassed by a nearby forest fire; the haze suitably blurs them into an undistinguished mob - fate, the cinematic signs indicate, might pluck a lucky one or two of them and drop them into a court, where they might shine, for the satisfaction of our gaze, as well-dressed individuals. Hey presto! Marquise appears, dancing up, quite literally, a storm; a leggy cavort in the rain - complete with slow-motion overhead cam to presumably emphasize her free spirits - gets her a marriage proposal, a place in Moliere's acting company, and, thereafter, much upper-class male attention. Again, Marceau's lack of acting skills fails her character's attempts to develop a craft; the film shoots itself in the foot when Estelle Skornik, as Marquise's maid Marie, takes over Marquise's role in Racine's play Andromaque. Skornik brings grace and intensity to the roles of both Marie and Andromaque that are sorely missing from the movie. Good writing is most notably absent, however; the film meanders for two hours with little, besides a small intrigue involving poisoned chocolates, to pique audience interest. |
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