A Little Chaos

When King Louis XIV (played by Alan Rickman, who also directed) commissioned Versailles, numerous gardens were included in the process. Kate Winslet plays an unconventional landscape architect, who is hired to design and complete an unusual outdoor ballroom. Under the guidance of an architect (Matthias Schoenaerts), she struggles with doubters, the politics of court and various rivals. Despite the lavish settings and costumes, the performances are subdued and Rickman has kept a restrained hand on the proceedings. Still, the story is fascinating, the art direction attractive and the result quietly lovely

Initially A Little Chaos bears comparison to a new and unused jewellery box in that it is pretty but empty. As things progress, however, one’s interest is stimulated by a couple of well-played scenes and a dedicated performance from Kate Winslet. She can do a role like this as if it was a walk in the park, or as is the case here, a walk in the garden. Her dialogues with Alan Rickman in particular have a real spark and are quite hypnotic to behold, successfully drawing one into what has hither to been a rather unengaging period piece. The film is generally overly talky rather than literate and the period setting is an unnecessary expense even if the costumes are beautiful in themselves. This is a tale that could easily have been told in a modern setting. At its heart it is basically a romance between Winslet and Matthias Schoenerts who is, unfortunately, not seen to best advantage here costumed and ****. He seems uncomfortable in the period setting and his performance lacks the dimension he brought to his role in ‘Suite Francaise’. On the other hand Alan Rickman, as the sun king Louis X1V, is a better actor here than he is a director. Scenes are often lengthy and over indulgent and the film seems to have ambitions above, what is essentially, a small romantic storyline. Supporting performers add colour, although Stanley Tucci is in danger of being typecast as campy and effeminate. Here, as the King’s bi-sexual brother, he makes meals out of witty throwaways. Thankfully, he can be seen at the moment to better advantage in TV’s ‘Fortitude’. Overall the film is disappointing rather than bad, but does afford some pleasures for anyone seeking out fairly light and undemanding entertainment.

A LITTLE CHAOS is pure fiction and one wonders, why was this film made exactly? Utterly pointless, but very engaging. You leave confused by the whole work. One thing you can't deny, Kate Winslet is perfection and director Alan Rickman includes two masterful scenes that show the humanity beneath all the pomp and circumstance of the French court. So I guess... see it but don't expect much.