Set in the high courts of 16th Century France, where the wars of religion between Catholics and Protestants are raging. Marie de Mézières, a beautiful young aristocrat, is in love with Henri de Guise, but her hand in marriage is promised to the Prince of Montpensier.
Based on a novel by the celebrated Mme de Lafayette, the action centers on the love of Marie de Mezières for her dashing cousin Henri de Guise, thwarted when her father's political ambitions force her into marriage with the well-connected Philippe de Montpensier, whom she has never met. When Philippe is called away to fight, she is left in the care of Count de Chabannes, an aging nobleman with a disdain for warfare, and soon becomes exposed to the sexual and political intrigues of court.
Cheating Notes
Princess Marie is in love with her cousin, Duke Henri (they have intimate scenes at 11:33 and at 21:03, where she is already arranged to be married) but she gets married by arrangement to Philippe de Montpensier. Eventually, he gets the attention of Duke Anjou, the brother of the King, when Anjou and Henri come to her husband's domain. Philippe, Anjou, and Henri are cousins in one way or another.
Anjou openly flirts with Marie in front of her husband, like during dinner (1:12:06) when he tells her that he would gladly convert her to his passions, or when he tells her husband that he would gladly trade places with him in retiring to the bedroom with his wife. Philippe can't lash out at the King's brother so he lashes out at Marie when they get inside their bedroom because he thinks that she was flirting back with Anjou. However, Marie will reject Anjou's future advances.
Meanwhile, Henri is quite hateful and sarcastic towards Marie after seeing her for the first time after her marriage. Marie takes the same stance towards him, especially when she hears that he's going to marry another woman. But eventually, they rekindle their passion for each other.
When Philippe sees Henri caressing Marie's face while they talk, with their faces close to each other and almost kissing (1:28:02), he challenges Henri to a sword fight, especially after he tells him that he will keep her company in his absence. Anjou intervenes in their sword fight, effectively ending it before anyone gets hurt.
When Henri and Marie get to be alone again in an isolated part of the castle sometime after the sword fight, Marie allows Henri to caress her breasts and kiss her (1:34:43). Although she pulls away from his kiss and runs away, she smiles and looks very happy when she reaches her bedroom.
After a couple of developments plot-wise, Marie kisses and has sex with Henri (1:52:18 and 1:54:32). Non-nude and above-shoulder shots only, but she gets naked in other parts of the movie (at 24:05 during her honeymoon with her husband in front of witnesses, and at 1:06:29, naked with her husband in front of Count de Chabannes).
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