Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. For today’s blog post, I will be sharing some of my recommendations for films that have Coquette energy! I always feel that the playful and flirty energy of the Coquette is very much alive in Spring, so I thought that this was an ideal time to share this list of film recommendations to embrace the Coquette energy. Without further ado, let’s look at some films with Coquette energy!
Marie Antoinette (2006)
~Of course, I could not begin a list of films to embrace Coquette energy without including this Sofia Coppola classic. After all, many people view Marie Antoinette herself as the original Coquette! This film is one that I have adored ever since it was released, and that is in no small part due to the fact that this film seeks to show us a sympathetic portrait of the Doomed Final Queen of France. As a sidenote, this is yet another film celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, which is crazy to think about!
Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
~Ah, of course, we have another film that is set in 18th-century France. This shows a bit of the darker and more dangerous energy of the Coquette, where we have the coy flirtation turn truly scandalous and deadly! It is based on the classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. The film tells the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, and the dangerous games they play in the Courts of French Nobility!
Contempt (1963)
~This is one of my favorite Brigitte Bardot films! It is a story with many layers, being about the film industry, as well as about a collapsing relationship. Bardot, in this film, definitely embodies some seductive Coquette energy, in my opinion. I will not give any further information, as it is best to go in pretty blind and let the story wash over you!
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
~Yes, I have a second Sofia Coppola film on this list. Is that a surprise? This is Coquette energy taken into the 1970s, where the flirty energy of the Coquette, the energy that balances the Maiden and Creatrix archetypes so well, is shown in the Lisbon sisters. This is especially true of Lux, the sister played by Kirsten Dunst. Interestingly, the film is told through the memories of men who were obsessed with the girls as teenagers, and still are obsessed with the memory of them as adults. This truly shows a different perspective, one of how the Coquette is perceived by others.
Nosferatu (2024)
~This one would be classed as having ‘Gloomy Coquette’ energy. I could not resist recommending this film again, as it has quickly become a favorite since its release in December 2024. This version of Nosferatu gives us a version of Ellen who truly does fit the term Gloomy Coquette, as she is flirtatious and very sexual, while also being deeply pained and troubled emotionally. I think this is an important aspect of Coquette energy not broached much in film, and one that adds depth to what we think of as Coquette!
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)
~This Czechoslovakian Folk Horror film tells the story of the titular Valerie as she comes of age. This is a film that uses Witches and Vampires in the tale of a girl coming to sexual maturity, making it a fascinating watch. Being a young teenager, Valerie definitely embodies more of the Maiden side of the Coquette energy, but as she begins to understand her body, you can definitely see the flirtatious edge emerge!
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
~Ah, this was one of my favorite films from last year! It is a very dark horror take on Cinderella, told entirely from the titular Ugly Stepsister, Elvira’s perspective. In many ways, it can be said that Elvira is taught in very Coquettish ways to act as she goes through her makeover to become a prospective bride for a Prince! However, this is a darker and yet also more synthetic version of the Coquette as a possible villain. After all, Elvira is taught to act a certain way and is not truly feeling as playful or flirty as she is made to act. It is truly a beautiful and powerful Body Horror and Folk Horror film.
Vanity Fair (2004)
~Of course, I could not leave Becky Sharp off the list. After all, she is definitely an example of a scheming Coquette who used her charm and perceived innocence to get where she desired in life. Yes, she had ups and downs, but she always kept going and kept striving. She is honestly a literary character I have always found fascinating, and often to be a bit unfairly maligned! I have recommended the version where Reese Witherspoon plays her, as I have a soft spot for this take, as I was a girl myself when it released, but any version is worth the watch.
Jawbreaker (1999)
~I end out my Coquette recommendations with the High School Dark Comedy. I think it is easy to see how the clique of mean girls in this film embodies Coquette energy in a very 90s way! Plus, the film is just so fun, with a candy-colored aesthetic and great music, even as it discusses very dark themes.
~I hope you have enjoyed this list of recommendations for films to watch when you want to embody Coquette energy. What is your favorite film that portrays Coquette characters? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is one of the most iconic paintings of Marie Antoinette, done by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. I found the art on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette_with_a_Rose.
LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries