Henri de Guise


So, what's this guy's deal? He spends the whole film chasing and trying to win back Marie's love only to give up on her in the end. I didn't really understand the reasoning behind this. She was willing to give up on her marriage for him, but he was already engaged to another woman by then. My view on it was that Henri liked the chase of going after Marie when he didn't have her, but once he had her, he was looking elsewhere for his future prospects. I don't know if I understood the last scene between them properly with him saying something about his fortune having been lost since he turned down the first marriage proposal. So--what, does that mean he's poor now so he can only choose to marry a rich woman to regain his fortune? He chose money over love?

reply

I just saw this film last night & had the same thoughts. I believe he said his fortunes were lost because he didn't marry the Duke of Anjou's sister because the Duke found out he was still chasing Marie, who the Duke wanted as well. Henri had me fooled, I thought he really loved her too....but once he ?had? her & to continue to be with her would essentially ruin them both, that was it. Overall I loved the scenery, the costumes, etc. but found some of the acting a little stilted. Except for the Count of Chabannes, Lambert Wilson, he was totally believable.

reply

Lol am I the only one who thinks Henri de Guise really loved Marie de Montpensier but didn't have many options left? She was a married woman, it's not like she could divorce her husband! What were they supposed to do, go off in the forest and live a life of sin while completely dishonoring three families in the process? Or plot to kill his cousin, making her a widow? He already rejected a proposal to marry a princess of France, but eventually realized he wasn't going anywhere. I don't think it's just about money, it was about his future and creating a family of his own, since she couldn't be with him.

reply

Good points. I think it can be looked at both ways. One of Gaspard's interviews he said he both liked & disliked the character & he saw Henri as being, mean, to Marie. I could be wrong about his choice of words, my memory plays tricks. Good film when it gets you thinking & looking at different perspectives.

reply

Good film when it gets you thinking & looking at different perspectives.

That's right, I didn't see at it that way. I still think that her life with Philippe de Montpensier could have been a happy life, maybe not super passionate, but happy, and she threw everything out of the window... I almost resent her for doing that ha

reply

He wanted to go to bed with her. He wanted to add her to his list of conquests. That was it. That was all. Everyone from her parents, husband, Anjou and her friend Chabannes told her that was the case. But she went ahead and slept with him anyway.

So where is she in the end? Nowhere. Maybe a convent will take her in.

Meanwhile Guise is living the high life.

Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for her. But it was all mostly her own fault.

No, I take that back. I don't feel bad for her. She was the main reason Chabannes lost his friend and his position. Not only that the main reason why he was killed. Even after he was banished the little jackass thought it was fantastic that she had her lover hiding in her closet and she went ahead and slept with him. When she could have helped Chabannes.

reply

Excellent points, all, kaskait. I don't think she gave Phillipe a chance from the get-go. She was headstrong, impetuous, and thought only of what she wanted and damn the consequences. She was not a sympathetic character IMO.

I felt bad for Chabannes when he sacrificed his friendship with Phillipe only to watch her care not one whit about either of them. The only thing that apparently mattered to her was making love with the scar-faced deGuise. Her actions were the catalyst for Chabannes' murder, and I think her grieving about his death was more likely the fact that he wouldn't be around for her and her machinations.

Boo hoo for the poor little princess.

Some movies are released; others sneak out.

reply

But I loved the movie.

Its so rare to have a film showcase an Anti-Heroine. This character is so messed up that I was simultaneously rooting for her and hissing at her. French films are so good at showcasing morally questionable and difficult female characters. Its great.

reply