Marguerite

Florence Foster Jenkins, a real-life 20th-century opera-loving socialite who insisted on giving recitals despite a manifest lack of talent, is clearly the inspiration behind filmmaker Xavier Giannoli's biting yet also strangely affectionate period piece. Marguerite Dumont (Catherine Frot) is a wealthy French baroness who holds private concerts in order to raise funds for worthy causes, appearing herself—following performances by gifted musicians—in near-regal splendor to sing demanding coloratura pieces, blissfully unaware of the screeches emanating from her throat. Marguerite's industrialist husband (André Marcon), a genteel philanderer, is embarrassed by his wife's avocation, but she is protected from derision by her loyal butler (Denis Mpunga). When a gate-crashing reporter (Sylvain Dieuaide) wryly extols the truthfulness of Marguerite's voice, this backhanded compliment persuades her to not only plan a recital in the opera house, but also hire an over-the-hill tenor (Michel Fau) in desperate need of money as her vocal coach. Although there are some struggling subplots—including a romance between the journalist and a young soprano— Marguerite for the most part deftly walks a fine line between farce and tragedy, never simply ridiculing the needy, childishly ebullient baroness or turning her into a totally pathetic figure. Part of this success is due to Frot's ability to make her character touchingly infantile. Visually, Marguerite's alabaster sheen is a treat for the eye, while the score is quite lovely—apart from the baroness's deliberately painful shrieks. Music lovers in particular should find it quite engaging. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an interview with director Xavier Giannoli (18 min.), deleted scenes (7 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an entertaining film.] (F. Swietek)