Jeanne du Barry
Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one until she meets and begins a scandalous relationship with King Lou...
The film disappointed at the box office against its mid-range budget of $22.4M, earning $13.0M globally (-42% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the biography genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Jeanne du Barry (2023) exhibits precise plot construction, characteristic of Maïwenn's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jeanne du Barry
King Louis XV
Duc de Richelieu
Adelaide
Duc d'Ayen
Comte Jean du Barry
Main Cast & Characters
Jeanne du Barry
Played by Maïwenn
A courtesan from humble origins who rises to become the last mistress of King Louis XV, navigating court politics and class prejudice.
King Louis XV
Played by Johnny Depp
The aging King of France who falls deeply in love with Jeanne, defying court tradition and protocol.
Duc de Richelieu
Played by Benjamin Lavernhe
A nobleman and advisor who introduces Jeanne to the king, serving as her patron and guide at court.
Adelaide
Played by Melvil Poupaud
Louis XV's eldest daughter who leads the opposition against Jeanne, viewing her as an inappropriate influence.
Duc d'Ayen
Played by Pierre Richard
A stern court official who enforces protocol and opposes Jeanne's presence at Versailles.
Comte Jean du Barry
Played by Pascal Greggory
Jeanne's nominal husband who facilitates her entry into aristocracy through a marriage of convenience.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Jeanne Bécu works as a courtesan in Paris, living a life of survival and beauty in the demimonde, charming men for money but lacking true status or security.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Count du Barry proposes that Jeanne marry his brother to gain nobility, allowing her to be presented at Versailles and catch the eye of King Louis XV. This offers escape from her precarious life.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Jeanne is formally presented at Versailles and meets King Louis XV for the first time. She actively chooses to pursue his favor, entering the dangerous world of court politics., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Jeanne achieves peak influence and acceptance: she is installed in her own apartments at Versailles, recognized as maîtresse-en-titre. However, this false victory comes with increased scrutiny and enemies., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, King Louis XV falls gravely ill with smallpox. Jeanne is banished from his bedside and forbidden to see him. She faces the death of her protector and lover, realizing she will lose everything., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. After Louis's death, Jeanne is exiled from Versailles as expected. She accepts her fate with dignity, understanding that her love for Louis was real even if the world saw only scandal., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Jeanne du Barry's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Jeanne du Barry against these established plot points, we can identify how Maïwenn utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Jeanne du Barry within the biography genre.
Maïwenn's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Maïwenn films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Jeanne du Barry takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Maïwenn filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional biography films include After Thomas, Taking Woodstock and The Fire Inside. For more Maïwenn analyses, see My King, Polisse.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jeanne Bécu works as a courtesan in Paris, living a life of survival and beauty in the demimonde, charming men for money but lacking true status or security.
Theme
A character remarks that "at Versailles, everything is about power and appearance" - foreshadowing Jeanne's journey from courtesan to official royal mistress and the cost of ambition.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Jeanne's world in Paris: her relationships with other courtesans, her beauty and wit, and her introduction to Count du Barry who sees her potential to influence the king.
Disruption
Count du Barry proposes that Jeanne marry his brother to gain nobility, allowing her to be presented at Versailles and catch the eye of King Louis XV. This offers escape from her precarious life.
Resistance
Jeanne debates accepting this arranged path to court. Count du Barry coaches her on court etiquette and the dangers of Versailles. She marries his brother in name only and prepares for presentation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jeanne is formally presented at Versailles and meets King Louis XV for the first time. She actively chooses to pursue his favor, entering the dangerous world of court politics.
Mirror World
Jeanne and Louis XV begin their romantic relationship. He represents genuine connection versus transactional relationships - teaching her that authentic feeling exists beyond survival and manipulation.
Premise
Jeanne navigates life as the king's official mistress: lavish gifts, jealous courtiers, political intrigue. She experiences the pleasure and power promised, but also faces the contempt of nobles who see her as lowborn.
Midpoint
Jeanne achieves peak influence and acceptance: she is installed in her own apartments at Versailles, recognized as maîtresse-en-titre. However, this false victory comes with increased scrutiny and enemies.
Opposition
Court factions led by the Duc de Choiseul and the royal daughters conspire against Jeanne. Louis becomes increasingly ill and withdrawn. Her low birth becomes weaponized against her at every turn.
Collapse
King Louis XV falls gravely ill with smallpox. Jeanne is banished from his bedside and forbidden to see him. She faces the death of her protector and lover, realizing she will lose everything.
Crisis
Jeanne waits in anguish as Louis dies. She processes the loss of genuine love and the certainty of exile. She reflects on whether her ambition was worth the cost of being used and discarded.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
After Louis's death, Jeanne is exiled from Versailles as expected. She accepts her fate with dignity, understanding that her love for Louis was real even if the world saw only scandal.
Synthesis
Jeanne lives in exile, eventually guillotined during the French Revolution. The finale shows her fate as a woman caught between worlds - never fully accepted by nobility, destroyed by the revolution meant to liberate commoners.
Transformation
Final image of Jeanne facing execution with dignity, transformed from a woman seeking status and security into someone who experienced genuine love and paid the ultimate price for crossing social boundaries.