Movie review: Farewell, My Queen

IN the early days of the French Revolution, a key lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette has the prime position to watch a kingdom crumble before her.

farewell, my queen

MOVIE REVIEW: IN the early days of the French Revolution, a key lady-in-waiting (Lea Seydoux) to Queen Marie Antoinette (Diane Kruger) has the prime position to watch an entire kingdom crumble before her.

Flawlessly produced and acted, Farewell, My Queen is as smart and sophisticated as a period costume drama can get in this day and age.

This is despite the filmmakers' mistaken assumption all viewers will immediately understand this nuanced snapshot of a famous flashpoint in French history.

A quick brush-up on Wikipedia before buying a ticket will definitely come in handy for filling in any possible blanks.

Thankfully, an exceptional collection of lead performances is where the real need-to-know info is conveyed.

Seydoux is a revelation in the key role, displaying a range and intensity that super-charges many a scene. Particularly when the sedition and sensuality of the time depicted here both begin to spiral out of control.

Kruger and co-star Virginie Ledoyen (as Marie Antoinette's reputed lover) are also at the top of their game.

SEE Farewell, My Queen is playing exclusively at the Cinema Nova, Carlton

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Farewell My Queen [M]

Rating: 3/5

Director: Benoit Jacquot (Sade)

Starring: Lea Seydoux, Diane Kruger, Virginie Ledoyen

"A right royal goodbye"