Her machinations, her bitchiness, have been revealed. She takes in all the boos, then silently and softly turns around to leave, stumbling briefly. In the last shot of the film, the camera slowly zooms in on the Marquise’s face. It is quiet; there’s no music, no booing. It’s only the Marquise and her reflection, her poise intact but shaken, taking off her mask literally and figuratively. Her jewels come off, then her makeup. Her eyes are downcast, and her face fades into black. While she is alive, the Marquise has been socially annihilated, and she knows it.
