Vertical has acquired Jeanne du Barry, the period drama starring Johnny Depp, which received a 7-minute standing ovation after its opening night world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
The film is based on true events chronicling a peasant woman’s meteoric rise through the Court of King Louis XV, the film
French actress, film director Maïwenn co-wrote, directed and produced the critically acclaimed film which also stars French actors Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, and Pascal Greggory.
Jeanne du Barry follows Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a working-class woman determined to climb the social ladder, using her charms to escape her impoverished life. Her lover, the Comte du Barry (Poupaud), wishes to present her to King Louis XV (Depp) and orchestrates a meeting through the influential Duke of Richelieu (Richard). The encounter goes far beyond his expectations for it was love at first sight for the King and Jeanne. Through this ravishing courtesan, the king rediscovers his appetite for life and feels he can no longer live without her. Making Jeanne his last official mistress, scandal erupts as no one at Court will accept a girl from the streets into their rarified world.
In its review, IndieWire graded the film a B-, writing, “Still, for all those self-aware touches and inspired casting winks, “Jeanne du Barry” runs out of steam awfully fast. While hewing to a historically accurate speed-run through Louis XV’s final years from his mistress’ perch, the narrative has little ground to cover once that commoner flame asserts her position at court. Rather than ratcheting tension with a third act reversal, the late arrival Marie-Antoinette (Pauline Pollmann) lays bare the hard limits of keeping Jeanne our sole center of gravity.”
“More frustrating than a misfire, “Jeanne du Barry” suffers instead from near total myopia, roaring to life with wit and ingenuity when the constellations align and the lead’s star can shine, and dwindling before the risk of any possible eclipse. The film burns hot and bright — and quickly flames out.”
Ouch.
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