Based on the award-winning biography Marie Antoinette: The Journey by British author Lady Antonia Fraser, Marie Antoinette presents a poignant glimpse into the private life of France's last queen before the Revolution.
The story opens in 1770 with Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna, affectionately called Antoine and portrayed by Kirsten Dunst. She is the enchanting but unsuspecting youngest daughter of empress Maria Theresa (played by Marianne Faithfull). Selected by her mother to marry her second cousin, King Louis XVI, Antoine embarks on a significant journey to solidify an alliance between ailing rivals, Austria and France.
As the 14-year-old girl travels to a small island amidst the Rhine River, a place symbolizing the shift from Austrian to French dominion, she is introduced to the Comtesse de Noailles (Judy Davis), who will oversee her transition into life at Versailles—her future home. In a traditional "crossing-over" ceremony, the Comtesse explains that Antoine must forfeit her Austrian identity, which includes her cherished possessions and even her beloved pug dog, Mops. After undergoing a transformation into French fashion, she makes her grand entrance as the Dauphine of France, her name now translated to Marie Antoinette.
Later that day, Marie Antoinette meets King Louis XV, portrayed by Rip Torn, the lascivious grandfather of her betrothed, Louis XVI, played by Jason Schwartzman. The introverted Dauphin awkwardly interacts with his fiancée for the first time, while his aunts engage in hushed gossip, claiming, “she looks like a child,” deriding her Austrian lineage.
As Marie Antoinette arrives at the grand opulence of Versailles, she is quickly swept into an extravagant wedding ceremony, lacking the time necessary to acclimate to her new life. Despite the lavish celebration, her wedding night takes an unusual turn, leaving the expectation of intimacy unmet, which leads to the morning report stating, “apparently, nothing happened."
The marriage soon becomes burdensome for Marie Antoinette as she grapples with the constraints imposed by the palace’s formal customs. Seemingly enclosed by an entourage of indifferent nobility, the court's disdain grows, attributing blame to her failure in producing an heir. Meanwhile, her husband Louis becomes absorbed in his obsession with locks and keys, leaving their relationship emotionally distant.
Amid courtly gossip relayed to her by sympathetic courtiers, Marie Antoinette learns of the notorious Madame du Barry, the King’s mistress, whose crude behavior is shunned by many. Although counselled to avoid du Barry, Marie Antoinette begrudgingly engages in a brief conversation, hoping to quell any impending scandal.
Striving to break free from Versailles’ rigid formality, Marie Antoinette attempts warmth and camaraderie. From sharing food on hunting trips to enthusiastically applauding at operas, her efforts to connect unsettle some courtiers, yet she gradually forms friendships with Victoire and Sophie, among others. Following a letter from her mother warning of the potential annulment due to their unconsummated marriage, she attempts to seduce Louis but faces whispers of impotence surrounding her husband.
As the years progress, Marie Antoinette continues to lavish herself in gowns and pastries, seeking solace in indulgence while struggling with her unproductive marriage. One fateful evening, her husband, her friend the Duchesse de Polignac, and others participate in a masked ball in Paris, where an undeniable attraction emerges with Count Axel von Fersen (Jamie Dornan).
In 1774, following the death of Louis XV, Louis XVI rises to the throne, and Marie Antoinette proudly stands by his side during the coronation ceremony in Reims. However, amidst increasing strife among the French populace, her extravagant spending persists, further escalating the country's financial turmoil as the new King dives into wars abroad.
Winter brings joy as her brother, the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II (Danny Huston), arrives, highlighting their reunion and revealing their mother’s advice on intimacy. This prompts the couple to finally consummate their marriage, leading to the joy of Marie Antoinette giving birth to a daughter, Marie Therese, in December 1778. Although she desires to foster a close bond with her newborn, societal norms prohibit her from nursing her child. Louis gifts her with the Petit Trianon, a secluded cottage in the gardens of Versailles, where she cherishes moments of peace with family.
Over the coming years, France continues to support the American Revolution financially, causing growing discontent among its citizens. Food shortages spark riots in Paris, leading to a stark decline in Marie Antoinette’s public standing, which earns her the derogatory title of “Madame Déficit.” With maturity, she reevaluates her lavish lifestyle and prioritizes family, even refraining from diamond purchases. Tragically, after the loss of her mother in November 1780, Marie Antoinette welcomes a son, Louis-Joseph, but faces heartbreak once again as another child dies in infancy.
By July 1789, the tides of revolution surge as an enraged mob heads toward Versailles, forcing the royal family to choose between fleeing or remaining. With most aristocrats escaping, the royal family decides to stay, only for the mob to breach the palace walls, capturing them and leading them to the Tuileries for a period of semi-imprisonment. The film concludes with the haunting image of the Queen's once-splendid chamber, now ravaged by the uprising.
The final disclaimer underscores the historical outcomes: Louis XVI was executed by revolutionaries in early 1793, followed shortly by the beheading of Marie Antoinette that same year, marking the end of the French monarchy and the birth of the Republic.
