mila61 regardless the mockery and despise of the people surrounding her, supposing to like her singing, she kept going on with all her heart, her generosity and forgiveness, she really believed what people where saying to her, the ones who used her innocence to gain her trust and took advantage of her, regardless the pain she felt knowing that even her husband turned his back on her, she didn't stopped, she loved singing so much and this was her way of escaping reality and the lack of love she received in return, she wanted to please everybody and didn't spare her health to achieve the unbelievable and against all odds, she went singing on stage, great performance of Catherine Frost,

zif ofoz Never mind the parallels other reviewers have given to the American singer Florence Foster Jenkins. Director Xavier Giannoli has created a marvelous story which is operatic in it's own right! "Marguerite" is both funny and tragic as can be found in many classic operas. Catherine Frot brings the character Marguerite to life in such a believable way the viewer feels sorrow for her self imposed delusions on her ability to sing and her inability to see how her husband uses her and her so called society friends cater to her delusions even tho they themselves are laughing behind her back.Her devoted butler, Madelbos, sees her as she sees herself - a grand opera singer who has performed all the great operatic female roles to perfection. Thus all the care and detail he contributes in her costumes and photos of her as if she actually performed these roles. Since her husband avoids her Marguerite has placed life into Madelbos's hands. Enter the two young journalist who meet Marguerite by sneaking into her estate during a fancy party to raise funds for the War Orphans charity. These two young men are very involved with the post WWI avant-garde movement in Paris and they find Marguerite to be both anti-establishment and uproarious. They write a glowing but tongue-in-cheek review of her singing. She reads it and is so taken with these two young men she befriends them and they in-turn introduce her to the underground art movement in Paris at that time. These people accept her as a performance artist and take her to heart.So now Marguerite finds herself in two worlds, 1. The established moneyed society which patronize her and 2. The avant-garde art underground youth art culture. She experiences happiness, ambition, and excitement. Of course all this comes crashing down around her and she breaks under the reality. Her husband learns the hard way that he really loves her but it is too late. Her butler Madelbos could see this eventual end and is prepared to capture this bitter sweet moment.What a wonderful movie, story, vision, Xavier Giannoli has brought to the screen. A delight to see, maybe painful to hear at times, but your heart will ride with Marguerite through her highs and lows, and be broken along with her friends that believed in her.Bravo!!!

aharmas This is the dramatization/adaptation of what is a true story. The film rests mostly on some fantastic performances, mostly the one by Catherine Frot, in the leading role. Marguerite was a wealthy woman who believed she understood music and kept telling herself for the longest time she was a decent singer. People were against telling her because of their own reasons, from a husband who believed in protecting her for his own reasons, to members of her society who took advantage of her resources.The film questions whether she really knew what was going on, or if she wanted to believe it so badly that she convinced herself she could sing. The audience has to pay careful attention to the development of the story and her reactions to the many people who come into her life. There is the critic who writes a pretty ambiguous review in order to say what he wants, without being direct. Later, he appears to change his mind as he gets to know her better.In the background there is loyal servant who has designed a world of lies in order to prevent her more unnecessary suffering; however, we begin to wonder if all of this is really going to help or make things worse. Enter a teacher with a past, the possibility of her going on a stage and face the ultimate audience. "Marguerite" is not exactly a crowd pleaser, and it's most likely to break a few hearts as we get to know the truth behind this woman's actions. There are moments full of inspiration as we see how the power of music can take us into another reality. The film doesn't shy away from showing all the sides. We see a heavenly performance by an upcoming singer, and it is there to show how truly atrocious is Catherine's singing. There are no doubts about that, yet there are questions about how love can distort perspectives, and how good intentions can lead to more terrible results. Is it possible that "Marguerite" is a love story?

david-rector-85092 'Marguerite' was for me the most anticipated inclusion of the French Film Festival touring Australia as I write this review. In part due to the pithy and alluring plot line given in the booklet for the screenings, and in part as Catherine Frot was freshly known to me since seeing 'Haute Cusine' a couple of years back. I was really impressed with the subtle but powerful presence of Ms Frot on screen. I've become most enamored with the many wonderful actresses from France and this film and performance has already put Catherine Frot into an award winning position; confirming her long and distinguished career. Rather than give away too much of the plot; i'd would prefer to sing the praises of the panoply of elements that make this movie so memorable and commendable. It is beautifully staged and executed, with a faithful commitment to the period and a skillfully cast ensemble of actors to back the leading lady. I was especially impressed with Congolese actor Denis Mpunga who lends such a solid and fascinating literal support as Marguerite's butler. Michel Fau steals every scene he is in as an overly hammy opera singer; and Andre Marcon manages to both represent and challenge the archetype of a philandering husband. While the film does run long; a shade over 2 hours; for the most part it is compelling, intriguing, amusing, sad and thought provoking. How many movies can be described that way? There were moments where I was both laughing and crying; a result of powerful direction by Xavier Giannoli who also co-wrote the film, and of course the impeccable performance from Catherine Frot. There is enormous dignity that the actress conveys as well as a hapless and at times a quiet knowing which is hugely endearing and makes Marguerite neither a victim nor a focus for ridicule. La Frot has such cinematic presence and yet at times there is great stillness to the performance; and of course there is the full bodied musical pieces that anchor the film's structure and themes. There is a majesty to the film cinematically; and despite a couple of plot strands hastily thrown in and not satisfyingly completed, there is a potency and cogency to the script and to the film's overall running time. I feel it will be one of my favorites of 2016.