Jeanne du Barry
The lavish new historical drama from writer/director Maïwenn (Polisse), JEANNE DU BARRY is freely inspired by the life of the titular rags-to-riches social climber, a working-class woman who became the mistress of King Louis XV (Johnny Depp). 18th Century, pre-Revolution France. Jeanne Bécu (Maïwenn) hungers for culture and pleasure, and is determined to escape her commoner upbringing. With charm and sharp wit, she builds a reputation as a skilled courtesan and her benefactor, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud) grows rich through her amorous encounters. Wishing to present her to the widowed King Louis (Depp), a renowned womaniser, the Comte orchestrates a meeting through the influential Duke of Richelieu (Pierre Richard). For Jeanne and Louis, it’s intoxication at first sight; sparking derision and scandal, and jeopardising relations with the newly-arrived Marie Antoinette (Pauline Pollmann). French language, English subtitles.