Movie Review - Marguerite

Marguerite ***½ (out of 5) (R) France. 1920. A wealthy woman with a titled husband loves nothing more than singing opera and other classics. She performs for the gentry at elite functions under the aegis of a snooty, arty society, bedecked in lavish costumes and other production elements, with all the enthusiasm of any diva. No one has the heart to tell her how appallingly tone deaf she actually is, or how hard they labor to keep from laughing at her follies. For decades.

Delusional and penniless = crazy and fit for the loony bin. Delusional and rich = eccentricities that will be indulged, whether harmlessly through a series of nerve-jangling arias, or more disturbingly through a Republican presidential primary season.

As portrayed, Marguerite Dumont, loosely based on a woman named Florence Foster Jenkins, is a sweet innocent, genuinely adoring the music she unwittingly butchers, without a clue about the extent to which her husband, servants and peers toil and scheme to protect her from reality.

A young, snarky music critic sneaks into one of her recitals, hoping to dish some dirt on the upper crust. But he surprisingly writes a rather tongue-in-cheek review that seems flattering. This first sign of public approval convinces Marguerite to start sharing her gift to the world beyond her circle. How could her loyal minions hope to keep the Empress from learning the truth about her vocal clothes? What hidden agendas are actually swirling among all the players?

The script for this subtitled dramedy, co-written by Director Xavier Giannoli, is remarkably layered and intelligent. We get humor, suspense and more character complexity than one would expect from the premise. There’s historical and political context in the mix, as well. What could have easily been knocked out as a trifling farce winds up with plenty of meat on its bones. Any film buff has to love the homage of making its subject’s name so close to iconic Margaret Dumont, who played the clueless dowager comic foil in a half-dozen Marx Brothers movies, including their finest four - Night at the Opera, Day at the Races, Animal Crackers and Duck Soup. The film runs a bit long at just over two hours, with an ending that may not satisfy all comers, but there’s plenty for the adults in the room to appreciate about the production. (3/25/16)