Farewell, My Queen (2012) Movie Review

Sidonie Laborde wakes up and gets ready to attend to her duties as one of the Queen’s maidservants. She is Marie-Antoinette’s reader, and she’s running late today. So she hurries, but just after she enters the palace’s gates, she stumbles and soils her dress. She is met by Madame Campan, the Queen’s first lady-in-waiting, and informs her she’s 10 minutes late. Nevertheless, she goes to the Queen and reads to her.

The Queen notices that Mademoiselle Laborde scratches her arm too much. When Sidonie tells her the itching is caused by mosquito bites, the Queen asks Madam Campan to bring her some rosewood oil. As the Queen rubs some of the oil onto Sidonie’s arm, you can tell that Sidonie’s both feeling awkward and enjoying the gesture.

As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that Sidonie is very fond of the Queen -- that type of fondness that goes beyond loyalty. Sidonie has a crush on the Queen. The only problem is, the Queen prefers someone else, Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchess of Polignac.

When militants storm the Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789, this naturally caused unrest in the Palace of Versailles. The servants and guards wondered what would happen to them. While some decide to pack their luggage and leave, Sidonie chose to stay...for the Queen. Yes, of course, Sidonie would never leave her Queen.

Then, the Queen asks Sidonie a favor that could save or lose her life.

1. Nobody speaks French better than the French

Though the screenplay is entirely French (save for a few English lines), I’m not talking about the French language. I’m talking about how “authentically French” this movie is … well, at least based on the comparison one can get from watching other Marie-Antoinette films produced and released by big Hollywood labels. In other words, nobody does French history better than the French themselves. Oops, Diane Kruger is German.

Remember Kirsten Dunst’s Marie Antoinette (2006)? Try watching Farewell, My Queen and you’ll see that Marie Antoinette (2006) has no depth. Then again, that’s just my opinion.  

2. A refreshing story that touches on our fascination about Marie-Antoinette

Though this movie is about Marie-Antoinette, this is NOT about her. So I like it a lot. You can’t even hear the line that people associate her with. For once, it’s about something and someone else. I also like the fact that the novelist and the filmmakers toy around Marie-Antoinette’s sexuality. Marie-Antoinette engaged in homosexual acts? Why didn’t I think of that? At least, for once, there’s a film that doesn’t focus on her extravagance. Wink!

3. No erotic scenes

Unlike other movies, especially gay-themed ones, Farewell, My Queen did not rely on lesbian or gay sex to illustrate the "intimate friendship" of Marie-Antoinette and Gabrielle of Polignac. Sure, there were two nude scenes, but there was nothing erotic in them.

NON. 

I like the movie a lot.

Sorry, movie savants, I think I was blind to the movie's imperfections. Wink!

Should you watch Farewell, My Queen?

Yes!
Absolutely!
Definitely!
Of course!

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