25
Jun
2008
« Madame du Barry » : Historytainment. (2/5)
Posted On June 25, 2008
By France.com
And has No Comment
Christian-Jaque carefully wraps his film in many layers of artificiality, like a beautifully dressed and made up actress, to prevent any misunderstanding about what we are about to see : « Historytainment », rather than a scholarly lecture in colour about the roots of French Revolution, though we shall witness the joyful deliquescence of a « Régime » which, before the century ends, shall have become « ancien », or past.
Summer break is looming, but there is still time for one final History lesson. No worry : it will be light.
The characters in Besson’s signature film, « Le grand bleu », set records by diving deeper and deeper and exactly describe their creator’s ambition : film after film, as a scriptwriter, director, producer, to achieve new cinema lows that will translate into box office records.
Faced with a terrible film, a resourceful viewer, and irrepressible positive thinker, mines it for hidden reasons that may give it a hint of interest.
