Quesnel Film Club
has announced its winter
lineup of movies at
the Carib Theatre beginning
with Marguerite,
Jan. 12, showtime
6:30 p.m.
Loosely inspired by
the true story of New
York socialite Florence
Foster Jenkins, Marguerite
transplants
the setting of the tale
to 1920s Paris, where a
wealthy grande dame
will not let anything
stand in her way of
pursuing her dreams
as an opera star.
Quesnel Film Club has
announced its winter
lineup of movies at
the Carib Theatre beginning
with Marguerite,
Baronne Dumont
(possibly a nod here to
the majestic Margaret
Dumont in the Marx
Bros films) may have
married her husband
Georges for his title
(and he for her money)
but she genuinely loves
him; and her horribly
misplaced musical
ambition is to make
him proud. He, however,
addresses her as
“vous” throughout the
story, and is having an
affair with a mutual
friend, using his temperamental
motor-car
“breakdowns” as excuses
to miss her singing
whenever possible.
Her musical social circle
are all too aware
that Marguerite lacks
any singing talent, but
her neighbours enjoy
her lavish hospitality;
avant-garde poets and
performance artists
hijack her bizarre renditions
for their own
ends; and others simply
haven’t the heart to
break hers by telling
her the truth, especially
as she’s helping raise
money for war orphans
(it’s 1920).
Marguerite’s butler
Madelbos is a keen
amateur photographer
who intends his shots
of her operatic costumed
poses to make
his name when eventually
she performs in
public and becomes famous
- for the wrong
reasons. He even uses
photos to blackmail
washed-up gay tenor
Pezzini to take the job
of Marguerite’s voice
coach, to the despair
of Georges who had
hoped Pezzini would
tell the truth.
Pezzini makes the
most of his enforced
role, bringing his retinue
to stay and putting
Marguerite through
a variety of bizarre
exercises. A benefit
concert of solo operatic
showpieces is arranged.
Just before it,
Marguerite discovers
Georges’ infidelity and
is devastated, though
dignified. Georges says
the affair is now over.
He resolves to attend
the concert, though
dreading the ridicule.
Marguerite begins; the
house freezes then collapses
into incredulous
laughter.
But for a few moments,
as Marguerite
sees Georges in the audience,
she sings true:
then collapses, coughing
blood.
A voice doctor pronounces
that her voice
just needs rest. But
Marguerite is losing
touch with reality as
her dreams of an international
singing career
become a reality to her.
The doctor records her
spoken “memoirs” of
concert engagements
on a phonograph.
Georges decides that
the doctor should record
Marguerite’s singing
to shake her out of
her delusions; but regrets
his decision and
dashes to the hospital.
He’s delayed by his car
- genuinely - breaking
down, and arrives just
in time to catch Marguerite’s
fatal collapse
as she finally hears the
truth. Madelbos captures
her last moment
of life, cradled at last
in Georges’ arms.
Tickets for Marguerite
are $9 (regular
admission) and
$7 (seniors). Everyone
welcome. For
more information on
Quesnel Film Club
call 250-747-7422 or
250-747-3979 or join
their Facebook page
Quesnel Film Club
or visit, www.quesnelfilmclub.
ca.