A young peasant, Sidonie loves her job. Her infatuation with the Queen has is so strong that it has grown into idolization. Sensing this, her majesty starts treating Sidonie as her prized companion. As news of the storming of the Bastille begins to spread, Sidonie and her cohorts are filled with uncertainty. While everyone claims to know something, it’s impossible to distinguish fact from fiction. Meanwhile, the Queen alternates between making frivolous demands of her staff and trying to hatch her own escape plan. While most of the servants flee; choosing survival over loyalty to the crown, Sidonie remains, even as Marie Antoinette becomes increasingly volatile.
While the relationship between the two women is frustrating, it remains engrossing because of the performances of Lea Seydoux and Diane Kruger. Seydoux, no doubt best known for her kickboxing catfight with Paula Patton in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, gives an understated performance, showing intense loyalty for her employer, but also a fierce independent streak. Conniving and self indulgent, Diane Kruger’s Marie Antoinette is so beautiful and shows enough vulnerability, that we’re glad the film spares us her execution.
Director Benoît Jacquot succeeds at conveying a sense of realism, even amid the fairytale setting. The servants must deal with bug bites, the occasional rat and darkness at night in candle free rooms. Things really hit home when terrible news arrives. In one scene, a pamphlet is delivered with the names of 286 people the revolutionaries seek to behead. One man pathetically remarks that he’s number 21. While Marie Antoinette’s fate is widely known, it’s these moments involving the fate of others, including Sidonie that creates a real sense of tension throughout the film.
Amid the chaos, Versailles takes on the feel of a golden fortress. The ruling class and the remaining servants hope to hide behind it walls. But as many of us know, money can’t by everything, least of all safety in the face of war.
Entertainment One and Cohen Media Group have brought Farewell, My Queen to Blu-ray in an aspect ratio of 2.34:1 and a 1080p transfer. Despite all of director Benoît Jacquot’s natural lighting schemes (candles, fireplaces, etc.) throughout, detail remains rather sharp. Contrast is surprisingly strong. Colors aren’t overly vivid, as the palette leans toward beiges. Nonetheless, it seems to suit the film well. All in all, the transfer offers a nice filmic appearance with no digital anomalies to speak of.
The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in the original French language doesn’t offer tremendous surround activity, but still serves the film well. There’s some nice depth in the aural field that helps to convey the enormity of Versailles. Dialogue, placed front and center, comes through clearly. Ambient sounds can be heard, dotted throughout the track.
English subtitles are included
The following special features are available:
- Benoit Jacquot and Kent Jones Discuss Farewell, My Queen (HD, 20:28) A discussion between the director of the film and Kent Jones, who directs the New York Film Festival, on November 4, 2012. Mostly in French (with subtitles), they discuss the original novel, how it needed to be adapted for the screen and various production and filming issues.
- Interviews (SD, 22:26) Another interview with Jacquot as well as several cast members. We also get some behind the scenes footage, which shows various shots being rehearsed and filmed.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:34)
