Born in 1743, Jeanne Bécu (played by writer-director Maïwenn), the illegitimate child of a monk and a cook, spent her formative years in a convent, where her taste for contemporary literature scandalised the nuns. Released at the age of 15, Jeanne, hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and sexual wiles to methodically climb the rungs of the social ladder. She inveigles her way into Versailles where she becomes the favourite of King Louis XV (Johnny Depp), however, to become his maîtresse-en-titre – chief royal mistress – Jeanne must marry someone of high rank so that she can be accepted at court, and she is hastily betrothed to Comte Guillaume du Barry (Melvil Poupaud). Shot on location in Versailles, Maïwenn’s sumptuous period drama was the opening night film of the Cannes Film Festival 2023.

Tickets for the 18.10 screening on Wednesday 24th will be €10.40 for IFI and Alliance Française members.

Notes by David O’Mahony