Jeanne du Barry is a French period drama, directed and starring Maïwenn (known for The Fifth Element), about the courtesan and the last official mistress of King Louis XV (Johnny Depp) of France. The film chronicles her life from her childhood and formative years as a servant's daughter, to her rise in French society through sex, alliances, and strategic marriages. Although well-crafted, it is a very conventional drama that, in its making, invites not very favorable comparisons with Barry Lyndon. While Kubrick's classic manages to be a very subtle satire, Maïwenn's film takes itself too seriously. This, considering its representation of the female gender and the backgrounds of its two main stars, not only does not help but invites questioning the purpose of telling this story, with so little hope for its protagonist. You will enjoy it if you like period dramas with sumptuous costumes, or if you are an avid follower of Johnny Depp.
Firebrand is a period drama directed by Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz that explores the conflicts faced by Catherine Parr (Alicia Vikander), the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII (Jude Law), during the monarch's final days, increasingly delusional and paranoid due to the illness that took his life. With impeccable cinematography and costume design, and almost in the vein of a domestic drama, the film delves into the tension experienced by Catherine between her reformist aspirations and her role as the wife of a violent and vengeful king, marked by the precedent of Anne Boleyn. Firebrand asserts Catherine's role in the history of the English crown, taking some creative liberties and not overly concerned with providing the necessary historical context to understand everything that happens. For those well-versed in the subject and able to tolerate these creative licenses, it will be a captivating drama about a facet of the Tudor dynasty that is not often explored in film.
This provocative French drama takes place in a time of greater modesty and social controls, but that does not prevent the blossoming of a forbidden love between a young bride and the artist who must portray her in a painting. Thus, 'Portrait de la jeune fille en feu' mixes an excellent period reconstruction, beautiful photography and an intense romance - which only gains with the performances of Adèle Haenel ('The Unknown Girl') and Noémie Merlant ('Curiosa'). Another highlight in the filmography of director and screenwriter Céline Sciamma, who has already signed productions such as 'Tomboy', 'Girls' and 'Lírios d'Água'.
Emily Brontë died too soon. At 30 years old, the author of 'Wuthering Heights' took her last breath, leaving behind one of the most relevant (and read) works of the 19th century. Her story is told and imagined in 'Emily', where Emma Mackey ('Sex Education', from Netflix) plays this writer in her youth. Even though many aspects of her life are imagined, since there is little information about the author, it is interesting to dive into what lies behind this book and, above all, it is inspiring to get to know better such a remarkable and important figure. It's just a shame that first-time director and screenwriter Frances O'Connor doesn't bring anything very original to the table, betting on those basic elements of biopics.