Queen Margot (1994)

Young Queen Margot finds herself trapped in an arranged marriage amidst a religious war between Catholics and Protestants. She hopes to escape with a new lover, but finds herself imprisoned by her powerful and ruthless family.

Director:

Patrice Chéreau

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas père (novel) (as Alexandre Dumas), Danièle Thompson (scenario & adaptation)

Stars:

Isabelle Adjani, Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Hugues Anglade

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabelle Adjani	...	Marguerite de Valois dite La Reine Margot
Daniel Auteuil	...	Henri de Navarre
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Charles IX
Vincent Perez	...	La Môle
Virna Lisi	...	Catherine de Médicis
Dominique Blanc	...	Henriette de Nevers
Pascal Greggory	...	Anjou
Claudio Amendola	...	Coconnas
Miguel Bosé	...	Guise (as Miguel Bosè)
Asia Argento	...	Charlotte of Sauve
Julien Rassam	...	Alençon
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Nançay
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Coligny
Jean-Philippe Écoffey	...	Condé (as Jean-Philippe Ecoffey)
Albano Guaetta	...	Orthon

Storyline

The night of August 24, 1572, is known as the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. In France a religious war is raging. In order to impose peace a forced wedding is arranged between Margot de Valois, sister of the immature Catholic King Charles IX, and the Hugenot King Henri of Navarre. Catherine of Medici maintains her behind-the-scenes power by ordering assaults, poisonings, and instigations to incest.

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Plot Keywords:

protestant | massacre | queen | king | wedding | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for nudity, strong sexuality, and for graphic scenes of massacre

Details

Country:

France Italy Germany

Language:

French Italian

Release Date:

9 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Queen Margot

Filming Locations:

Basilique de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France

Box Office

Budget:

DEM 42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,190 (USA) (16 May 2014)

Gross:

$2,017,346 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Renn Productions, France 2 Cinéma, D.A. Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

159 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene between Margot and La Mole, where they stand outdoors wrapped in nothing but a red cloak, was included for the American release even though it had not appeared in the original cut. The American distributors had insisted on the relationship between the two characters being more substantial (the romance was to become the focal point for the American marketing campaign).

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Goofs

In the scene where La Mole and Coconnas are being dragged, alive, from a cart full of dead people at a mass burial site, you can clearly see a 'dead body' in the background blink its eyes.

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Quotes

La Môle: Promise me something. They say death always took your lovers. They say you lock their hearts in gold boxes around your bed.
Margot: They do? What else? That at night, wearing a mask, I roam the city, looking for love?
La Môle: One day you'll know who you really are. Promise you won't forget me... the one you shouldn't have loved.
Margot: I promise.

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Connections

Featured in The 67th Annual Academy Awards (1995)

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Soundtracks

Elohi
Performed by Ofra Haza
(Ofra Haza (as Haza) - Goran Bregovic (as Bregovic))

User Reviews

not historically accurate but really worth seeing

For the American people that have seen this excellent French movie, I will say just one thing: in many countries around the world we get to see movies from abroad with subtitles. Most of the movies that we see in South American countries come either from North America or Europe and we don't usually complain about the subtitles. Only kids movies are dubbed in Spanish. A great part of the romance or charm about French movies comes from the fact that they are actually spoken in French. Nobody in these films expects the rest of the world to understand as they speak but to make a little effort and appreciate the beauty in each language is something I think is missing in American culture. I've seen nothing but comments on how difficult it was for some members of the American public to understand this film. I only ask myself: in times of globalization, isn't it interesting to learn from people from other parts of the world in their own language, specially a French film based on a French novel by the French Alexandre Dumas, placed in the 16th century, directed by one of France's best directors and acted by some of the most wonderful French actors and actresses of the last decades? Would you want to see this film in English? Sorry, but I think you would be missing a great deal of the depth and emotion of this unique film!!!