Farewell, My Queen 2012

In the year 1789, just before the French Revolution, the luxurious routines of the court at the Palace of Versailles continue, seemingly untouched by the growing chaos nearby in Paris, which lies a mere twenty miles away. This world is vividly portrayed through the perspective of Sidonie Laborde, who is devotedly serving Queen Marie Antoinette.

As news of the dramatic storming of the Bastille reaches the palace, a wave of panic sweeps through the aristocrats and servants, leading many to abandon the Royal Family out of fear for their own safety as the government appears to be crumbling. However, Sidonie, a staunch royalist, resolutely chooses to stay, convinced of her safety under the monarchy’s protection. Little does she realize that these are the final three days she will spend by the Queen’s side.

In a dramatic twist, the Queen commands Sidonie to assume the identity of Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, the Duchess of Polignac, transforming her into a decoy to facilitate the Duchess’s escape to Switzerland. Despite receiving alarming warnings from one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, Sidonie complies with the Queen’s wishes. The process is quite invasive, as she is first stripped of her clothing and then redressed in an elegant green gown.

The journey takes a complicated turn when the coach carrying Sidonie is also occupied by the actual Duchess and her husband, who are disguised as her servants. Throughout the trip, they regard her with scorn, yet Sidonie manages to convincingly play her part. This ruse ultimately allows the group to cross the border safely. As the film reaches its poignant conclusion, Sidonie reflects on her transient position, noting that her sole connection to power is her role as the Queen’s reader, lamenting that soon, she will be just another nameless face in the crowd.