best period drama-romance that i've seen in the lately and yet another proof on why hollywood is not able to do romance properly. maybe it's the imperfect leading men and their tempestuous declarations of love - no brad pitt can beat the prince of montpensier's crying at marie's door. and gaspard ulliel is the epitome of opportunistic charming assholes as the duke of guise. not to mention anjou and his almost grimdark sexyhot impersonation. and never has a display of male jealousy and dueling seemed so sexy as in this movie. i just loved how the boys took their swords and fought each other (WHICH WAS A TOTALLY TWINKIES MOMENT AND I WANT TO SEE MORE OF THAT IN MOVIES)

of course, it helps that there is no clear delineation between the "good guys" and the "bad guys". if it was a hollywood movie, montpensier would have been a true blue asshole or served as comic relief. luckily, this is france so he's a husband in love and jealous and all in all very lovable (yes, verily, i see a hint of king mark in there. hey, i'd like him as king mark)

and then there's the princess. i loved the fact that she's confused and repeats her mistakes and sometimes acts very harebrained and like a spoiled brat. i mean, just like in real life!