Director Benoît Jacquot adapted Chantal Thomas' bestselling novel examining the genesis of the French Revolution as witnessed from the perspective of the servants closest to Marie Antoinette. July 1789: Versailles. As the people of France rise up against King Louie XVI (Xavier Beauvois), the frightened sovereigns begin plotting their escape. Sidonie Laborde (Léa Seydoux) is the Queen's reader, and as such enjoys the many lavish privileges of being in the monarch's entourage. She sees herself as an extended member of the royal family, so when Marie Antoinette (Diane Kruger) requests that Sidonie don the Queen's clothing and flee in her carriage, the naïve servant views it as a tremendous honor. Meanwhile, the Queen herself plots to escape the palace under the cover of darkness, leaving her most loyal servant at the mercy of the raging mob. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
I agree with Ann, a very good film. A glimpse inside life at Versailles just days before the King and Queen were beheaded. A lot of the movie was actually filmed at Versailles. BB does not have at this time so I got a copy at my local library.
Thoroughly absorbing film, but a correction is needed in the synopsis. Sidonie, the reader, did not don the Queen's dress. Marie Antoinette had "favorites" in the court, and the Queen had the Duchess of Polignac wear a plain servant's dress so that she would not be captured by the revolutionaries while fleeing from Versailles by coach. In contrast, Sidonie, sent off in the same coach, was ordered to wear a striking green gown from the Duchess' wardrobe.