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Marie Antoinette

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Teen queen rocks out in punk-scored biopic.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Iffy, but not atypical for privileged, insulated royals in the 18th century. The royals leave their unseen subjects to suffer poverty (this leads to the revolution); members of the Royal court gossip, sometimes cruelly; card-playing and gambling; adultery; constant partying.
  • Violence:

    References to offscreen violence: the American Revolutionary War (which France helps fund), and the French Revolution, which takes the form of a "mob" arriving at the palace with pitchforks and hoes; Marie's mother and an infant die offscreen.
  • Sex:

    Corsets and dramatically shaped gowns show cleavage; Marie appears naked (from front with arms over chest, from the back) in scenes where others dress her; Marie and Louis XVI appear in bed, worrying about not having sex/producing heirs and then, very briefly, having sex (not graphic); Marie's affair with a soldier appears in a sunny, sweet montage, with kissing, some lovemaking (with brief nudity); the King's mistress appears "sexed up" (ample bosom visible) and in a sexual situation with the king (having fun in bed, contrasted with Marie); references to "bosom," Louis XVI's "unconsummated marriage," the "royal bush," and "harlot." Lots of talk of Marie needing to conceive.
  • Language:

    Sexual slang ("bush," etc.).
  • Consumerism:

    Marie is very materialistic; she shops constantly for clothes and shoes.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Drinking of expensive wine and champagne; in one scene, partiers snort powder; another shows partiers passing a pipe.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Marie Antoinette was written by Cynthia Fuchs

Parents need to know that this is a punk-rock version of history. While teens may enjoy the music, the movie's relatively slow pace might end up turning some of them off. For those of us who remember our history, she does indeed get beheaded, but it doesn't take place during the movie. There are a few scenes in which Marie appears naked (shown from the back or with her arms over her chest), but not in a titillating way, and there's some sexual allusion when a doctor asks Louis whether his body is "responsive." A couple of sex scenes show brief skin, the king's mistress is buxom and breathy, and there are a couple of birth scenes. This is French history, so naturally there's champagne and wine. In one scene, drugs are snorted and -- as is becoming all too usual in PG-13 movies -- there's smoking.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the movie's take on the famous 18th-century queen, presenting her as a raw teenage girl rather than a tyrannical royal. How can you tell that Marie feels isolated in her new court? Why does she get so caught up in shopping and partying? How is her behavior like that of today's teens? How is it different? How would you feel if you were in her position? Is it realistic to expect teenagers to rule a country? How do Marie and Louis XVI come to appreciate each another's limitations and support each another in the face of increasing criticism and -- eventually -- rejection by their subjects? Also, what do you think of the movie's music (which is unusual for a period piece)? Is it jarring or exciting?
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More on Marie Antoinette

What’s the Story?

In 1768, at age 14, young "Antoine" (Kirsten Dunst) is sent from Austria to France to cement "the friendship" between the two nations by marrying the 15-year-old French dauphin, Louis-Auguste, soon to be Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman). She's stripped of all remnants of her previous life and instructed by the supremely efficient Comtesse de Noailles (Judy Davis). In Austria, she's introduced to shy Louis-Auguste and his randy father, Louis XV (Rip Torn), and soon learns that royals get to do whatever they want, as long as they perform certain public duties. While Marie (her new moniker) and Louis present a facade of marriage at official functions, at night, he's too uncomfortable to consummate the union. Marie is ever aware that it's her "job" to seduce the king and produce an heir. She's reminded by her assigned French "aunties" (Shirley Henderson and Molly Shannon), letters from her mother (Marianne Faithfull), and advice from attentive Ambassador Mercy (Steve Coogan). Finally, two years later, Marie's brother Joseph (Danny Huston) arrives to "speak to" Louis in a way that inspires him to get his duty done.

Is It Any Good?

A thoughtful, sometimes-playful retelling of the story of Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola's film focuses on the doomed queen's adolescence. The punkish titles and soundtrack and the luscious pastel color palette depict the girl queen as a product of her times, living up to official expectations while also rebelling in whatever small ways she can manage.

Less concerned with plot than with context, the film reveals Marie's changing sensibility in gloriously detailed images and glances as she gains confidence and poise, ultimately being crowned queen at 19. Increasingly troubled by her "bad press", Marie is eventually undone by history. The film alludes only briefly to the French Revolution and the fall of Versailles. Omitting both Louis' and Marie's beheadings, the movie leaves her looking slightly sad as she departs from the palace. She is, as ever, resigned to her role as the public face of a monarchy bound to fall amid demands for republican government.

Movie Details

Studio: Sony Pictures, Director: Sofia Coppola
Run time: 123 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/19/2006, DVD release: 02/13/2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for for sexual content, partial nudity and innuendo.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Love this

    This is one of my favorites its a fantastic movie. the sexual stuff is brief and not that bad. she is naked but you dont see anything so not to much to worry about. the only thing missing from the movie was the part when they chopped off her head but its still good without it.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

    Much better than many critics claim it to be.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 3.0

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    History with a refreshing twist

    "Marie Antoinette" was a great movie! Sure, there were a couple of "iffy" scenes and a lot of champagne, but people should go deeper. Everything was great, except that the camera focused "too much on each scene" (especially carriage rides and less important scenes) and the ending felt cut off. But, I loved the way that "modern" music was tied in with scenes, like where at a ball the guests seemed to be waltzing to the music of our times. I couldn't believe it when some senior citizens were criticizing the movie and, translated into teen language, called it "a bore fest". I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY THINK; IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING MOVIE. BUT, BEWARE: IT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH OF A PLOT BECAUSE HISTORY DOESN'T HAVE A PLANNED OUT PLOT LINE, NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE MOVIE FOR HISTORY'S SAKE, AT LEAST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INTRICATE CLOTHING AND THE SCENERY. THIS MOVIE IS HISTORY WITH A REFRESHING TWIST FROM THE MUSTY, OLD TEXTBOOKS WE HAVE TO READ OUT OF. WHO SAYS LEARNING CAN'T BE FUN! IT'S WORTH IT TO SEE THIS MOVIE!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

    great movie cute shoes

    great movie she had such cute shoes great for teen girls some sex and lots of references main portion of story some cheating etc. but overall super good

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 3.0

    Great performance by K. Dunst!!!

    It was OK. I didn't like the ending, but it kept me gessing at what was going to happen throughout the movie. In general I thought it was a good movie and well filmed.

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    loved it

    I loved it

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    Pretty Good

    I was surprised to have liked this movie! It gets a bit slow in spots, but overall is very good, and one of the most beautiful-looking films I have watched.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

    The Ending Disapointed

    I loved this movie. I cant wait til i get it on DVD. But in a scene this movie was ruined by its horrible ending. I felt it came to a hult. I would have loved to see the truth of what hapened next. Marie Antoinette was beheaded, although that may have been graphic, i do fell the movie should have gotten to that part, i know many people were expecting this. But if the ending proved the way i planned, i would have no doubt given this 5 stars. And Kirsten Dunst was amazing.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    awsome

    luv this movie total chick flick some sexual issues but over all very good

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 1.0

    A big Disapointment

    THis movie was one of the worst I have ever seen. I was very disapointed in Kirsten Dunst especially. it was a awful inpercination of Marie Antoinette. A big waste of your time!!!

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    I'm a big fan of her's (marie antoinette) and I loved this movie! There is only like 1 nude scene, well 3 if you count scenes were she's naked but you can't see any thing. There is kinda a sexual thing where they talk about her and her husband having children and the her and her lover are shown... and when her brother talks to her husband about how sex is like putting a sword in it's case thing, but he used the right word but i can't remember it. over all there isn't much sex and it's not as big a deal as people make it out to be, as parts or the movie would not make sense without it. Amazing movie!!!!

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