Marquise on Blu-ray

SYNOPSIS

Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the British Independent Film Awards, the Grand Jury Prize at AFI Fest and a César Award for Jordi Savall's music direction, MARQUISE is a lavish costume dramedy set in 17thcentury France. Presented in a new 2K digital restoration, Film Movement Classics delivers " exuberant, sexy and rollicking entertainment[1]" with this sweeping historical tale  being released to Blu-ray for the very first time in North America.

Born into poverty, Marquise (Sophie Marceau) is a beautiful street dancer who found fame and notoriety among the seventeenth century aristocratic elite under the stage name Mademoiselle Du Parc. When the distinguished Molière (Bernard Giraudeau) and his theatre troupe come to town, Marquise mesmerizes the men, and joins the troupe. She marries Gros René (Patrick Timsit) and becomes a favorite of King Louis XIV, but it is not until Marquise becomes the mistress of rival playwright Racine that she finally realizes her ambition to become a great actress.

"Sophie Marceau is dazzling as the alluring Marquise: she captivates at every turn with her coquettish style and delicate beauty," said Louise Keller of Urban Cinefile. "The entire cast is top notch, the production design excellent and the cinematography beguiling." Variety's Lisa Nesselson wrote, " An attractive cast, bawdy subtext, lavish production design and peppy score are among the pleasures in Véra Belmont's energetically helmed pic."

BONUS FEATURES  

• Interview with director Véra Belmont
• New essay by author and professor Laurence Marie

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Type: Blu-ray /DVD/Digital (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu)

Running Time: 116 minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: 2.0 Stereo

Language:  French with English subtitles 

My Thoughts

In there are two things I love, it's theater and historical films. Marquise blends both in a stunning masterpiece. The film centers around a young woman named Marquise who rises above the poverty she's born into to pursue a life on the stage. Though she marries one of her co-stars, she begins to attract the eyes of rivals. She becomes the mistress of another playwright, leading to drama not unlike what still happens in Hollywood today. Despite all odds, she rises above all challenges to becomes a successful actress who performs for the king himself.

I love everything about this film. The costumes and sets are stunning, and the story will appeal to anyone who has a soft spot for theater. Grab a copy for yourself in stores nationwide or online at amazon.