Line #48 Film/MarieAntoinette2006


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/marieantoinette2006.jpg]]
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4	''Marie Antoinette'' is a 2006 American historical drama/biopic film written and directed by Creator/SofiaCoppola. It is loosely inspired by the life of Austrian-born French queen consort UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette (played by Creator/KirstenDunst), based off a biography by Antonia Fraser, ''Marie Antoinette: The Journey''.
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6	The film follows the fifteen year old princess on her way to the French Court to be married to future [[UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi king]] UsefulNotes/LouisXVI, her reign as queen alongside Louis, and through the beginning of UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution, when [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Women%27s_March_on_Versailles she and her husband were forced to relocate to Paris]].
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8	The film won the 2006 MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestCostumeDesign.
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10	Not to be confused with the [[Film/MarieAntoinette1938 1938 film]], the [[Film/MarieAntoinette1989 1989 film]] and the [[Series/MarieAntoinette2022 2022 series]].
11	----
12	!!Provides Examples Of:
13	* AltarDiplomacy: Marie of Austria is delivered to Louis [=XVI=] of France at the age of 15 to cement a treaty between the two nations. Neither was really prepared for marriage, and Marie was despised at the French court as "that Austrian whore." Nevertheless, Marie and Louis grew to love each other during their short reign.
14	* AnachronismStew: Deliberately invoked. The director used [[AnachronisticSoundtrack modern music]] and a quick shot of Converse sneakers to express that Marie Antoinette was just like any other teenage girl despite the period the film was set in.
15	* ArrangedMarriage: Maria Theresa and Louis XIV arrange a marriage between Marie and Louis XVI in order to cement a treaty between their nations.
16	* ArtisticLicenceHistory: As explained above in AnachronismStew, the film, while it shows Sofia Coppola has done her research, takes many liberties with the clothing in order to follow the film's aesthetic.
17	** Madame du Barry is dressed in a rather showy, almost gaudy way and lacks manners, mostly to show that she is from a different social class than all the other courtiers. The real Madame du Barry was known to be graceful and well-mannered, which was pretty much a requirement since she used to be a courtesan for noblemen, and her elegance was renowned even by her enemies. She was also genuinely hurt by Marie-Antoinette's snobbiness towards her, and was said to have claimed several times she only wished to be her friend. Suffice to say, she would have ''never'' burped during a dinner, especially during the dinner where she would be introduced to the Dauphine.
18	** Strangely enough, the movie [[AdaptedOut leaves out Princess Adelaide]], the eldest of Louis and Marie's aunts who was still alive and living at Versailles. She was not only considered the prettiest of Louis XV's daughters and therefore resented Marie for stealing her spotlight and her father's affection, but she was also the main force behind pitting Marie against Madame du Barry.
19	** It was not the Comtesse de Provence who had a child before Marie and Louis, but the Comtesse d'Artois. The Provence couple actually never had any children.
20	* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter: Justified by the time period, where children are viewed as the assurance of a happy and successful marriage. It ultimately happens just like this for Antoinette and Louis.
21	* BeamMeUpScotty: In-universe; Marie's famous "Let them eat cake!" line is addressed as slanderous gossip.
22	-->'''Marie Antoinette''': That's such nonsense. I would never say that.
23	* BitchInSheepsClothing: Aunt Sophie and Aunt Victoire.
24	* BlitheSpirit: The Duchesse de Polignac.
25	* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Marie Antoinette and the two women who are portrayed as her close friends. Antoinette is blonde (and wears a powdered white wig), Princess de Lamballe wears a dark wig, Duchesse de Polignac wears a red wig.
26	* TheCameo: French actor Creator/MathieuAmalric as one of the guests at the masquerade ball.
27	* CastingGag: As Sofia Coppola is the daughter of a famous director, she cast many children of famous film professionals:
28	** Creator/JasonSchwartzman (Louis XVI) is the son of actress Creator/TaliaShire and producer Jack Schwartzman (and Sofia Coppola's first cousin).
29	** Creator/AsiaArgento (Madame du Barry) is the daughter of director Dario Argento.
30	** Mary Nighy (Princess de Lamballe) is Billy Nighy's daughter.
31	** Katrine Boorman (The English Duchess) is the daughter of director John Boorman.
32	** Creator/DannyHuston is of course son of Creator/JohnHuston and grandson of actor Walter Huston.
33	** Io Bottoms, who played one of the ladies-in-waiting, is daughter of actor Sam Bottoms and Susan Arnold.
34	* CompositeCharacter: The count and countess of Provence, Louise's brother and sister-in-law, share little with the historical Provence couple and are closer in story and character to the count and countess of Artois, Louis's youngest brother and sister-in-law.
35	* CostumePorn: Accentuating the extravagance of Marie Antoinette's court.
36	* DatedHistory When the film was made, the relationship between Axl Von Fersen was considered to be speculative. Rumors flew that they were lovers, but royalists always dismissed this as slander, much like other rumors about Marie Antoinette's lovers with far less veracity. That said, it was always clear the two had affection for one another, and in [[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/x-ray-technology-reveals-marie-antoinettes-censored-secret-correspondence-180978796/ 2021 X-Ray studies]] of their correspondence revealed that their relationship was likely far more intense and lasted longer than the film portrays. He may well have lived with her for a time and may have been the father of some or all of Marie Antoinette's children.
37	* DecadentCourt: Versailles. [[TruthInTelevision Oh yes]].
38	* DirtyOldMan: Louis XV. TruthInTelevision, as he was a sex maniac [[EveryoneHasStandards even by French standards]]. Hell, his EstablishingCharacterMoment is to ask one of his ministers about Marie's bosom, and when the minister says he hasn't seen it, he laughs and says it would be the first place he would look at.
39	* DoomedByCanon: As this is historical fiction, sadly. Most of the characters (specifically Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and all their friends) will either die or be exiled.
40	* FishOutOfWater: Marie Antoinette when she first arrives at the French Court. Justified because she comes from Austria.
41	* FluffyFashionFeathers:
42	** Marie begins wearing huge plumes in her hair. She nearly catches one on a candle at a party.
43	** One of Marie's outfits is a dress trimmed with pink feathers and a feather muff, while her right hand lady in that scene wears a hat, muff, and dress trimmed with white feathers.
44	* FoodPorn: The pastries and macarons were made by Ladurée.
45	* {{Futureshadowing}}: When Marie comes to the balcony to greet the mob, she bows her head, but does it in a fashion where she stoops her head so low that we see her neck and hands spread cross-wise. This alludes to the pose condemned rolled into the guillotine would assume, alluding to her eventual fate in history which the film does not show.
46	* GoodTimesMontage: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZByH4Wai_I I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow]], played over an orgiastic montage of dresses, shoes, jewellery, champagne, gambling, Ladurée confections and adorable dogs.
47	** Played with in that it's used to illustrate how unhappy Marie Antoinette is in the restrictive French court and [[NoSparks her marriage]].
48	* GorgeousPeriodDress: Marie and just about every other character wears huge, beautiful dresses.
49	* GossipyHens: Most ladies in the court, but especially Princesse Victoire and Princesse Sophie.
50	* HappilyEverBefore: It's a subdued version, as the Revolution is in full swing, but the film ends on a pensive note and Antoinette being forced to leave Versailles, much as she had been forced to go there in the first place. It skips over the subsequent horrors for the main character, including a failed escape attempt, her husband's execution, being separated from her children, her own humiliating trial and finally, her own execution. So, far happier than the end for the real life Marie Antoinette.
51	* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Most of the characters are historical figures, mainly from late 18th century France. They include but is not limited to the titular character who became the Queen of France, Louis XVI, Louis XV, Princess Victoire, Princess Sophie, Maria Theresa, Madame Du Barry, Axel von Fersen and the Princesse de Lamballe.
52	* ImprobableHairstyle: Both anachronistic and maintenance. Marie has a modern haircut with layers and obvious highlights - most likely intentional on the director's part (see AnachronismStew above). The film also shows her with some of her more famous over-the-top hairstyles.
53	* KickTheDog:
54	** Along with her clothes and possessions, Marie Antoinette's dog Mops is forcibly taken from her when she enters France.
55	** The princesses who arrive late to Marie Antoinette's dressing ceremony appear to have done so on purpose, to force her to stand naked in front of the crowd for as long as possible.
56	%%* KnightTemplarParent: Empress Maria Theresa, for so much TruthInTelevision.
57	* LadyInRed: Madame Du Barry, probably to contrast with all of the paler colors of the French Court.
58	* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: Marie Antoinette is light feminine, with naturally blonde hair (over which she wears a white wig) and light pastel colors. Madame Du Barry, meanwhile, is dark feminine, with dark hair and wearing rich, dark colors.
59	* MarriageBeforeRomance: Starts with the marriage of King Louis XVI of France to Princess Marie of Austria. The two had never met until their wedding, which was made to solidify a treaty between France and Austria.
60	* MasqueradeBall: Mainly an excuse for excessive CostumePorn, but Duchesse du Polignac and Princess de Lamballe sneak Marie-Antoinette out to one.
61	* MovingAwayEnding: The film ends with Marie Antoinette and Louis being forced to leave Versailles for Paris due to angry rioters.
62	* NeverASelfMadeWoman: SeriousBusiness for a princess. Marie is constantly reminded that if she fails to produce children, then her marriage can be annulled and she can be shipped back to Austria. She's even heckled by members of the French court.
63	* NiceGirl: The Princesse de Lamballe is especially kind to [[FishOutOfWater gawky foreigner Marie Antoinette]].
64	** Although when she's at Louis XVI's celebrations she wears a ship on her head!
65	* NoAnimalsAllowed: Marie has her beloved dog Mops taken from her upon entering France because it's proof of her original nationality and it would be bad for the marriage. Marie does get other dogs, though. Ironically, in real life, Antoinette's lobbying to get Mops returned was successful, and her beloved pug lived out his life in luxury, dying before the revolution.
66	* OverlyLongGag: When she first moves to Versailles, Antoinette struggles to get used to protocols. This is reflected in a scene where she tries to get dressed, but is told that she needs to be dressed by the highest-ranking member in the room. As more and more people come into the room, she's introduced to each "highest ranking" lady until they're outranked.
67	* PapaWolf: Despite being portrayed somewhat as a wimp and dork, King Louis is fiercely protective of his wife and children. When the revolting peasants descend upon Versaille, while the royal family and their entourage are gathered together in the parlor, after hearing a crash somewhere in the palace, Louis immediately gets up from his chair placing himself as a shield in front of a frightened Marie and their sobbing children.
68	* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: Though their marriage was a diplomatic one, Marie and Louis genuinely do come to love each other.
69	* PhallicWeapon: "Look at that ''sword''."
70	* PimpedOutDress: Given the setting, loads are worn, by Marie and other ladies.
71	* PrettyInMink: When getting the du Barry situation dealt with, Marie wears a black coat with ermine cuffs and collar.
72	* PrinceCharmless: Louis XVI to begin with. Then he gets more likable and becomes more of a HopelessSuitor.
73	* PrincessesPreferPink: Marie Antoinette wears a few pink dresses. She even says in one scene that she likes a bolt of pink cloth because it looks like candy.
74	* ProtagonistTitle: The movie is unsurprisingly about the life of Marie Antoinette.
75	* TheQueensLatin: Played with, despite the location and period the film was set in. The actors speak in their normal accents: Kirsten Dunst (Marie Antoinette) speaks in a General American accent, Rip Torn (Louis XV) speaks in a mild Texas accent, Steve Coogan (Ambassador Mercy) speaks with a British accent, Jason Schwartzman speaks with a General American accent. Played straight for the Australian Rose Byrne (Duchess de Polignac) and Judy Davis (Comatose de Noailles); they both use R.P. British accents.
76	* RedOniBlueOni: Marie Antoinettes friends, the [[FieryRedhead Duchesse de Polignac]] and the [[TrueBlueFemininity Princesse de Lamballe]].
77	%%* RequisiteRoyalRegalia
78	* RunningGag: Marie Antoinette's morning routine, each time accompanied by Vivaldi's exhuberant Concerto In G Major.
79	* SexlessMarriage: Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI don't consummate their marriage for 7 years. Once they do however, Marie gives birth to their first child.
80	%%* ShoutOut:
81	%%** ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro''
82	* SlutShaming: The French court has an extremely low opinion of Madame du Barry, Louis XV's mistress, because she was born a commoner and used to work in a brothel.
83	* SpoiledSweet: Marie and her Ladies in Waiting indulge in many luxuries, yet all remain genuinely kind hearted and well meaning people, having no idea of the plight of the peasants. After finally learning how the poor are suffering, she does try to make some concessions to ease her subjects suffering... Unfortunately, by that time, it's too late to save her and her husband.
84	%%* StandardRoyalCourt
85	* StraightMan: Ambassador de Mercy-Argenteau tries to explain important state business to disinterested teenage Marie Antoinette, while she tries on dresses, eats macarons, and plays with her dog.
86	* ShownTheirWork: Sofia Coppola took a few quotes directly from the biography by Lady Antonia Fraser:
87	** Louis XV's comments about Marie's bosom when she arrives in France.
88	** When Madame du Barry sends diamonds as a gift, Marie says she already has enough.
89	** Marie's first and only words to Madame du Barry being a comment on the amount of people at Versailles.
90	** When Marie is throwing a party and she explains to Louis that he said she could throw one, but didn't specify how long for.
91	* TheTalk: King Louis get one by his brother-in-law, no less.
92	%%* TallDarkAndHandsome: Count Fersen
93	* TimePassesMontage: Done with paintings, and combined with [[BoredomMontage Boredom]]/SadTimesMontage
94	* TorchesAndPitchforks: The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_March_on_Versailles Women's March on Versailles]].
95	* VoiceOverLetter: The letters from Marie Antoinette's mother are read in the mother's voice.
96	* WakeUpMakeUp: Marie Antoinette's first scene has her fast asleep in bed. Her [[MessyHair hair's slightly messy]] but her makeup is impeccable. And in the carriage on the way to meet Louis XVI, and when she wakes up after her birthday blowout.

Context Film / MarieAntoinette2006