*
A hauntingly beautiful film about how deep disappointment finds an outlet in "creative" frivolity. The combination of rock music and the rituals of Versaille never "shocks" thanks to the mastery of the direction. There is also a solid mastery of pacing. The slow progression of the film never bores; it reveals in time. The glory of Versailles is not shown at the beginning but only as the film and the psychology of its heroine develop. The films owes a lot to the leading actress and way she is shot.

The close-ups of the expressive face of Kirsten Dunst communicate the whole range of emotions behind a women eager to please and to do well, but who is trapped and inwardly anguished and disappointed. Rarely have we felt so close to a famous woman so far back in time. The film also masters the art of depicting "historical clichés", such as MA playing milkmaid, very convincingly. I was wonderfully surprised by this unusual film, and will see it a second time.