The Affair of the Necklace (2001)

The Affair of the Necklace Poster

In pre-Revolutionary France, a young aristocratic woman left penniless by the political unrest in the country, must avenge her family's fall from grace by scheming to steal a priceless necklace.

Introduction of "The Affair of the Necklace"
"The Affair of the Necklace" is a 2001 historic drama film directed by Charles Shyer. The film stars Hilary Swank as Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois, a French noblewoman who ended up being entangled in an outrageous event that added to the general public's disillusionment with the monarchy leading up to the Reign of terror. The plot centers around the notorious affair of the same name which included the misappropriation of a diamond necklace worth a massive sum.

Plot Summary
Jeanne de Valois, whose household name had actually been unjustly tainted, looks for to restore her honorable status and recover her rightful place in society. Having actually been orphaned as a child, and having had her family's residential or commercial property seized, she is motivated by the desire for revenge versus the Royal household who she believes mistreated her. Jeanne weds the noble but impoverished Nicholas de Lamotte (Adrien Brody), who becomes her accomplice in her quest.

The story concentrates on Jeanne's elaborate plan involving a diamond locket initially commissioned by Louis XV for his mistress, Madame du Barry. After Louis' death, the pendant becomes a pricey problem for the jewelry experts, Boehmer and Bassenge, who desperately seek a buyer. Jeanne understands the necklace could be the key to get wealth and revenge by making use of the court's greed and the tense relationship in between Queen Marie Antoinette (Joely Richardson) and the French individuals.

Jeanne, impersonating a Royal attendant, encourages Cardinal de Rohan (Jonathan Pryce) that she is close to the Queen. The Cardinal, eager to win Marie Antoinette's favor, becomes a pawn in Jeanne's game. She convinces him that the Queen desires the locket but can not buy it openly and suggests that the Cardinal buy the pendant on the Queen's behalf to secure her gratitude. On the other hand, through forged letters, Jeanne makes the Cardinal believe that the Queen is captivated with him.

Unbeknownst to Rohan, Jeanne and her accomplices, including her fan Rétaux de Villette (Simon Baker) who creates the letters, strategy to steal the locket. They successfully deceive the jewelers and the Cardinal into turning over the necklace, believing it would go to the Queen. Nevertheless, Jeanne's group takes the necklace apart to offer the diamonds individually.

The Scandal Unfolds
When the jewelry experts require payment, the ruse begins to unwind as the Queen denies any knowledge of the purchase. Rohan is jailed and prosecuted, triggering a public scandal. Jeanne's role is exposed, and she captures the fascination and refuse of the general public as the trial digs deeper into the deceit and corruption surrounding the affair.

Throughout the trial, the Queen's image is stained regardless of her innocence due to the extensive belief that she was capable of such overindulgence and deceit, worsening the already rising anti-monarchy beliefs amongst the French individuals.

The Aftermath
As the trial concludes, Rohan is found innocent, the jewelry experts are pardoned, but Jeanne, in addition to her accomplices, is found guilty. Jeanne is publicly humiliated and penalized, but ultimately gets away jail time. Despite effective evasion, her life spirals downwards, paralleling the decrease of public perception of the monarchy.

Reflections on "The Affair of the Necklace"
While the film was not well-received critically and fared improperly at the box workplace, it offered an opulent portrayal of pre-revolutionary France and dramatized one of the occasions that fueled the increasing discontent resulting in the transformation. "The Affair of the Necklace" stays an attempt to cinematically catch a historical moment that mentions class divide, personal vendettas, and the repercussions of deceit at the highest levels of power.

Top Cast