Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings.  For this post, I will be discussing five films to watch when you want to be utterly enchanted by the energy of 18th-Century settings, especially the Rococo ones.   Without further ado, let’s look at some film recommendations to embrace the energy of the 18th-Century!

Marie Antoinette (2006)

~This film is so beautiful and so fun.   I love this Sofia Coppola film about the life of the last Queen of France; it is actually my favorite film of hers!    The film serves as a lovely, candy-colored coming-of-age narrative about a young Queen learning to become the best version of herself (or try to) amidst a Court that seeks to ostracize her.   I love that Sofia Coppola sought to be empathetic towards Marie Antoinette and not simply villainize her, as is often the case with other films about Marie Antoinette!   Oh, and yes, this film has a Masquerade scene, which I always feel amps up the 18-Century vibes.

Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

~Another great film set in France, this time it is a film about the Nobility, where the wealthy play vicious and cruel games.   I love this adaptation of the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.   Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil and the Vicomte Sebastian Valmont are former lovers who make bets with one another about their sexual exploits, as they seek to ruin the lives of other people!   The film definitely has something to say about people who hold so much power that they think they can toy with others, and it tells it in a gorgeous period piece.

The Duchess (2008)

~The real story of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, is retold in this biopic starring Kiera Knightley.   I find this English Duchess, known for her sense of style, her wit, and her rather radical political ideology (for her time, at least), to be a really intriguing historical figure.   The film portrays her life with an apt amount of beautiful clothing and sumptuous sets, making it a joy to revisit! 

Casanova (2005)

~Moving from France and England over to Venice, Italy, this film is a really fun take on the iconic story of Casanova.   The film tells a fictional version of the life of Giacomo Casanova, the famed lover, played to joyous delight by Heath Ledger.   I love that this film is not just about his sexual escapades, but rather is also set on telling the story of how Casanova truly fell in love, or at least in this film, he did!

The Slipper and the Rose (1976)

~Finally, ending in a fictional country made up for this fairytale adaptation.   I have only recently seen this Cinderella musical for the first time, and I truly adored it!   It is such a sweet and truly funny version of the classic tale of the girl with the Glass Slipper.   I thought it was one of the most romantic versions I have ever seen, as it allows us to actually get to know the Prince and see his desire to fall in love and marry for love!   And yes, the costumes and sets are very 18th-Century, which makes it feel like this film could have taken place at Versailles!

~I hope you have enjoyed this list of films to make you feel like you have time-travelled to the 18th-Century.   What other films do you watch to get Rococo and Masquerade vibes?   Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is an iconic Rococo painting by Francois Boucher.   I found the art on https://artuk.org/discover/art-terms/rococo.

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