La Reine Margot [1993]

The action moves from the sumptuous religious drama of Notre-Dame where an unwilling Margot is forced into marriage with her Protestant cousin, Henri; to the filthy streets of Paris, where numerous Protestants crowd the steet and Margot picks an anonymous stranger as her lover. Sewers, secret rooms, grubby streets and abandoned chateau juxtapose next to palaces, cathedrals and throne rooms. Passionate lovemaking scenes between Margot and La Mole contrast with the horrendous brutality of the Massacre and numerous secret assassinations. Artistic metaphor is rich throughout the movie, as well. Margot is married in red, but ends the film in a bride-white dress that is stained in blood.

The story - grotesque, mesmerising and violent - is based on real events; and, although not entirely accurate, it is the finest film to date on the horrific events of St. Bartholomew's Eve, 1572 and on the ultimate fall of the Valois dynasty.

The direction, the acting, the music, the scenery, the costume - everything about "La Reine Margot" is 5 stars!


A half-decent historical drama   November 7, 2006
Trevor Willsmer (London, England)
26 out of 40 found this review helpful

La Reine Margot/Queen Margot feels like that old joke about starting with an earthquake and building up to a climax. The first half is very impressive as it builds up to the bloodily realized St Bartholomew's Day Massacre, but the aftermath is less effective despite a number of potentially intriguing plot developments and relationships. But then, director Patrice Chereau is always better at set-up than delivery. Certainly you tend to observe the characters as they go through hoops rather than being particularly involved with them. Isabelle Adjani's performance doesn't help matters: she's fine as the icy royal in the first half, but she never convincingly thaws once the horrendous lengths her family are prepared to go to becomes apparent. Daniel Auteuil overdoes the eyepopping mugging as her reluctant and justifiably nervous husband, but Jean-Hughes Anglade as the weak and doomed king and Virna Lisi as the ice-veined Catherine de Medici genuinely impress.

The only extra is the theatrical trailer.


Superb Historical Movie   April 2, 2006
Mr. N. Matera (London UK)
24 out of 43 found this review helpful

Those who did not like this movie simply don't know about history. La Reine Margot is a relatively factual interpretation of a very real event in 1572 that depicts the St. Bartholomew day massacre (protestant Huguenots). It is a dark page in the history of France at the time. To fully enjoy the movie I would recommend reading Catherine De Medici's biography. If some people got upset about the goriness of the massacre, they need reminded that the real massacre must have been even more brutal than depicted in the movie. The acting is superb. Isabelle Adjani's Margot is sensitive and moving. Virna Lisi's Catherine de Medici's portrail deserves the accolade she received. My opinion in short is: "if you don't know history, don't bother watching these movies". perhaps you should stick to the highly inaccurate shmultz of Elizabeth. A five star movie that will be in my collection of movies to watch time and again to remind me of the stupidity, cruelty and brutality that religious fanaticism inflicts on humanity. A must watch.


A masterpiece.   September 26, 2005
22 out of 40 found this review helpful

This film is regularly described as one of the best french films ever made, and considering how good french films often are that's saying a lot! It more than lives up to the hype. A beautiful princess who goes from spoiled nymphomaniac to romantic heroine, a wicked queen, a handsome lover, a act of horrific evil that shocked all of Europe, all suberbly acted and directed- what more could you want?!

It's also surprisingly accurate (especially when compared to Hollywood films), although the serious historian will notice some changes to the facts (but when the film's this good who cares?!).

One thing I'm sick of are the frequent comparisons between La Reine Margot and the infinitely inferior British film 'Elizabeth', which was not only laughably innacurate but completely over-the-top (and at times blatantly copied La Reine Margot! Patrice Chereau should sue!). This is a far more interesting and accomplished film than Elizabeth, and quite possibly my overall favourite. Anyone that doesn't like it has something wrong with them.