The Princess of Montpensier

Veteran French director Bertrand Tavernier demystifies period films of their romanticism with this film set in 16 century France during the religion wars which is considered one of the darkest in the history of France. The story about a princess who's forced to marry a man she doesn't love while in love with another one. Marie de Mézières is promised to Mayenne de Guise while she's in love with his brother Henri. When her father gets an offer of great wealth which would allow them a greater social status, he breaks off the engagement and marries her to the prince de Montpensier. Marie becomes the object of affection of several powerful man which causes Henri to use her to get even with his enemies while securing a better match. The film is about the politics of relationships where love is used as a weapon to gain power and wealth which has devastating consequences. Tavernier takes a sober look at the period which seems more authentic but fails to live up to Patrice Chéreau's gloriously stylized "La Reine Margot" which was set in the same period. YRCinema's coverage of films at the 63rd Festival de Cannes.