24/50 Marie Antoinette

Number 24 in the '50 Films To See Before You Die Challenge.'
Collection: http://www.polyvore.com/50_films_to_see_before/collection?id=916766
 
Esthetically this film is beautiful. The bright colors and the beautiful dresses are to die for. But I also love the way this film was presented. It is a costume drama but it feels very modern. It was a perfect way to show the excess that the French would eventually revolt against. Marie Antoinette may have never uttered the words 'let them eat cake' but the people of France were right in thinking that the monarchy was enjoying too many perks while their subjects starved. However, the film doesn't just focus on the frivolous life of the monarchy, it also shows sympathy. Marie Antoinette escaped into a world of parties and endless spending to escape the overwhelming amount of pressure her mother, Austria and the whole of France put on her. Any one of us put into that sort of position would most likely be apt to do the same.

Quotes:
Marie-Antoinette: This is ridiculous.
Comtesse de Noailles: This, Madame, is Versailles.
 
Duchesse de Polignac: [to Léonard] I love your hair. What's going on there?
Léonard: Everything!
 
Marie-Antoinette: [taking tea in the royal chambers] Have you come to take me home?
Emperor Joseph: [amused] Unfortunately, I can not kidnap the queen of France... Is your hair quite tall enough today?
[she laughs]
Emperor Joseph: Maybe you can keep a pet in there or something.
 
Marie-Antoinette: So, I hear you like to make keys as a hobby?
Louis XVI: Yes.
Marie-Antoinette: And do you enjoy making keys?
Louis XVI: Obviously.
 
Duc de Choiseul: [about Louis and Antoinette's wedding night] Apparently... nothing happened.
Louis XV: [surprised] Nothing?
Duc de Choiseul: Nothing, my lord.
Madame du Barry: [chuckling] Oh, dear!
 
Maria Teresa: [in her letter to Marie Antoinette] Remember you represent the future and nothing is certain about your place there until the final physical act to crown the Franco-Austrian alliance is performed.

Marie-Antoinette: Am I to be Austrian or the Dauphine of France?
Ambassador Mercy: You must be both.