THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER – The Review

Since the news was all a buzz last week with details of the big royal wedding in London, let’s take a look at this film about a wedding amongst the near royals in France a few hundred years ago. Oh, and the French royalty does figure into the story eventually. Director Bertran Tavernier has directed a motion picture based inspired by the short story by Madame de La Fayette, THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER.

 This period romance is set near the end of the 16th century Wars of Religions between Catholics and Protestants. The Count de Chabannes has left the military service after having killed a peasant woman during a bloody skirmish at a farm. Soon the Count is rescued from Highwaymen by a former pupil, the Prince de Montpensier. They travel to the Prince’s castle where his father has arranged a marriage between him and Marie de Mezieres who carries a torch for her cousin the dashing Duke de Guise. After much protesting Marie’s father forces her into the arranged marriage, while the Duke returns to the battlefront. After an awkward wedding night the Prince has to join the Duke on the front lines. Before leaving he asks his old mentor the Count to instruct his new wife, the Princess, on the knowledge needed for admittance to the royal court. Over the course of the lessons they squabble and bond. Eventually she melts the Count’s heart. Before he can act, the Princess is requested to join her husband at the royal court.  The Count accompanies her there. While in the city she meets the Duke who still wants her as his bride. She also attracts the attention of the queen’s brother, the future King Henry III. Will she stay with her husband or run away with the three men vying for her heart?

THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER is a gorgeous looking movie. The castle backgrounds and period costumes are stunning. The few action scenes are very well done especially the opening fight at the barn and the big battle in the forest. The stand out actors are Lambert Wilson as the world weary Count whose passions have been rekindled since meeting the Princess. And what a beautiful, feisty, fiery Princess she is, as played by the stunning Melanie Thierry. Unfortunately the film is  poorly paced. The royal court intrigues slow down any momentum the film builds up. The relationship between the Prince and Princess shifts many times over the course of the film. He goes from indifferent to possessive several times. these script problems make this film that’s so lovely to look at, a challenge to sit through.

Overall Rating: Two and a Half Stars Out of Five