Marguerite

French writer-director Xavier Giannoli's latest comedy-drama is inspired by the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, an American socialite and out of tune amateur opera singer.

Set in the 1920's France, Marguerite Dumont is passionate about music and opera. She sings wholeheartedly to her close circle of friends at her fundraising recitals. Clueless about her lack of vocal talent, she elicits a lot of whispers and laughter, but nobody informs her about her shortcomings. When a journalist decides to write an article on Marguerite's latest recital, she is encouraged into training for a performance in front of a public audience.

The feature is marked by strong performances. Standing out in the lead character role is Catherine Frot as the naïve and confident Marguerite. Other good performances include André Marcon, as Marguerite's cheating husband Georges Dumont, Denis Mpunga as Marguerite's loyal butler Madelbos, and Michel Fau as the eccentric music teacher Atos Pezzini. 


Delivering an air of authenticity are the beautiful, period costumes by Pierre Jean Larroque, set designs by Martin Kurel and Flemish DP Glynn Speeckaert.

This well balanced dramedy, through Giannoli's direction, brings out the social satire and Marguerite's humanity.