A lost chance?

By Christiane Märker

July, 21th 2007

After the failed exchange there is this wonderful scene with Louis, Philippe, D’Artagnan and the Queen mother. Concerning the acting this scene is a highlight in the movie. But it is also a key scene.

We see how D’Artagnan and the Queen mother are begging for Philippe. And there’s the question what would have happened if Louis had listened to them. Actually in this scene he has the chance to make things take a turn for the better. He could have given a pardon to Philippe. This would have also saved himself because we know what happens to Louis in the end. The tragedy of the scene is that Louis misses this chance.

But he is not the only one there who misses a chance. The Queen mother on the other hand misses the chance to show Louis that she really loves him. You have to imagine this: Louis had been kidnapped and this is actually a traumatic experience (We should never forget that). So now it is normal that he would expect some support and comfort from his mother, as every “child” would do. But instead his mother gives comfort to Philippe who was part of the conspiracy. So if you were Louis, what would you think?? We can see that Louis is shocked when he sees what his mother does. And he is right. Then he deduces that his mother was a part of the conspiracy, too (She was somebody in the know). So when she says: “I love you both”, doesn’t this have to sound like a bad joke in Louis’ ears, like cynicism? Actually it is also hard for me to believe Queen Anne here. After all when she was in the ballroom with Philippe, she looked so happy and didn’t look as if she was only a bit sorry for Louis. So Louis is right to feel shocked and snubbed. And now the Queen mother misses the chance to convince Louis that she is serious, that she really loves him. But she does nothing to convince him. So Louis is even more angry and confused now and it is no wonder that he doesn’t listen to D’Artagnan’s plea. If his mother would have shown Louis that he really means something to her, it had maybe touched his heart and there would have been more hope for Philippe that his brother would be somehow lenient.

I think Philippe is the only one in this scene who makes no mistakes because he hasn’t anything to loose. But on the other hand D’Artagnan maybe also makes a mistake. What would have happened if he had told Louis the truth, that he was his father? Of course Louis could have become even angrier and this is maybe also the more probable scenario. But what if this would have been the way for D’Artagnan to make Louis really listen to him? After all Louis doesn’t act like a superior king in this scene who coolly weighs up things. He is a bundle of nerves. And I think if there was ever a chance in the movie to really touch Louis’ heart, then at this point (There are maybe also some other scenes, but this is the most obviously one) because he wasn’t unapproachable anymore at this moment. He loses his self-control. But this also means that the façade has fallen and that the access to his heart is open now (I hope you are able to understand what I want to say). But neither D’Artagnan nor the Queen mother take this chance. At the end Philippe is the one to suffer. But Louis also seals his own fate in this scene and this is the real tragedy in my opinion. Because Louis could have saved himself, bring peace to his family and save his father’s live. But he misses the chance and we all know how the movie continues then…

Chrissi

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