AllMovie

A beautiful woman struggles with the three men who control her life and the one who has won her heart in this historical drama from director Bertrand Tavernier. In 1567, France is mired in a civil war between Catholics and Huguenots (early Protestants), and the Marquis de Mézières (Philippe Magnan) is eager to form an alliance with the Duc de Montpensier (Michel Vuillermoz). With this in mind, the marquis strikes a deal in which his beautiful daughter Marie (Mélanie Thierry) will wed Philippe (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet), Montpensier's son. Marie is not especially happy with this notion, as she's fallen in love with Henri de Guise (Gaspard Ulliel), her handsome cousin, but she dutifully agrees to the match, and soon Marie and Philippe are sharing an estate in the countryside. However, Philippe is soon called up to fight in the civil war, and he asks his friend and tutor the Comte de Chabannes (Lambert Wilson) to look after Marie while he's gone. Marie is bright but not educated, and Chabannes is asked to educate her in intellectual and social matters; as he gets to know Marie, he falls deeply in love with her, but she's already divided in her loyalties between her husband and the man she truly loves. Adapted from the classic novel by Madame de La Fayette, La Princesse de Montpensier (aka The Princess of Montpensier) was an official selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.