eva25at's review above accurately recounts the plot of Princess Marie, so i will not repeat any of that. My account will describe the feelings I experienced with the film. I WAS MESMERIZED! As I have said in my review of Les Temps qui Changent, I will gladly see any non- American film Deneuve makes. However, unlike the not-worth-it Temps Qui Changent, Princess Marie is an astounding piece of work.As described in the film notes from the Boston MFA French Film Festival,where i saw the film , Deneuve brought the story to the director, as they had made other films together and were looking for another joint project.Well, I am compelled to use that old cliché: Deneuve was born to play this role. She is on the screen in almost every frame, and after the 3 hrs 10 min. i felt that i had attended ,metaphorically speaking, Babette's Feast. The screenplay, the acting, the cinematography,the sets and costumes; they all came together in a beautiful, rich,moving and truly riveting film. When I left the theater,and for that evening, I was still enveloped in the film. A day later,I am still. Wow.
