There are several films, both American and European, aimed at the reign of the French king Louis XIV, "The Sun King". It is undoubtedly a period that makes filmmakers dream, thanks to all the splendor and magnificence of the French court. But to understand this movie well, you need to have some knowledge of the court, the music of this period and the characters that are appearing. In fact, the French court was a cultural center at this time, thanks to the king's role as patron and protector of numerous artists and writers.
The focus of the film is the figure of Giovanni Battista Lulli, an Italian who naturalized French when he went to work for the court and adopted all the habits of his host country, to the point of making his name Jean-Baptiste Luly. He would become one of the most remarkable composers of his time. Initially focused on dance, he composed several ballets and dance numbers for the court, involving the king himself, who was a skilled and proud dancer in his youth. However, as time went on, the king's interest in dance diminished and Lully began to dedicate himself to the theater, composing the music for Moliére's most popular plays. He also devoted himself to opera, obtaining royal control of stage music in France until he died, a victim of the gangrene that consumed his flesh after accidentally injuring himself in a foot with the pointed stick he used to conduct an orchestra during a Te Deum. . Presented by the film as a man obsessed with his work and the art of ballet, looking for how much he could be in the good graces of the king, Lully was indeed a libertine and may have been bisexual. In addition to Lully, the king himself, and Moliére, the film features several other historical characters, such as Prince of Conti, Colbert, Louise de La Valiere, Cardinal Mazarino and Queen Mother Ana of Austria.
Benoit Magimel was a very competent Louis XIV, and I think he knew how to grasp the essentials of the monarch's personality and danced well. Moliére was played by Tchéky Karyo, an actor I don't know but who was brilliant and did a great job. The film clearly shows the collaboration and then the conflict between Moliére and Lully. And, as in real life, so here Moliére died on stage (well, actually he didn't die on stage, just passed out to die hours later, but that's details). Colette Emmanuelle also seemed excellent to me as the austere, devoted Queen Mother of France.
Being a film in full Baroque period, it uses and abuses the charm of Baroque costumes, full of details, wigs, lace and swords, as well as excellent scenery in the French castles and palaces of the time. Of course, as it is also a film deeply linked to music, some of Lully's best-known passages of music are well present. A movie that is undoubtedly a treat for the eyes and ears.
The focus of the film is the figure of Giovanni Battista Lulli, an Italian who naturalized French when he went to work for the court and adopted all the habits of his host country, to the point of making his name Jean-Baptiste Luly. He would become one of the most remarkable composers of his time. Initially focused on dance, he composed several ballets and dance numbers for the court, involving the king himself, who was a skilled and proud dancer in his youth. However, as time went on, the king's interest in dance diminished and Lully began to dedicate himself to the theater, composing the music for Moliére's most popular plays. He also devoted himself to opera, obtaining royal control of stage music in France until he died, a victim of the gangrene that consumed his flesh after accidentally injuring himself in a foot with the pointed stick he used to conduct an orchestra during a Te Deum. . Presented by the film as a man obsessed with his work and the art of ballet, looking for how much he could be in the good graces of the king, Lully was indeed a libertine and may have been bisexual. In addition to Lully, the king himself, and Moliére, the film features several other historical characters, such as Prince of Conti, Colbert, Louise de La Valiere, Cardinal Mazarino and Queen Mother Ana of Austria.
Benoit Magimel was a very competent Louis XIV, and I think he knew how to grasp the essentials of the monarch's personality and danced well. Moliére was played by Tchéky Karyo, an actor I don't know but who was brilliant and did a great job. The film clearly shows the collaboration and then the conflict between Moliére and Lully. And, as in real life, so here Moliére died on stage (well, actually he didn't die on stage, just passed out to die hours later, but that's details). Colette Emmanuelle also seemed excellent to me as the austere, devoted Queen Mother of France.
Being a film in full Baroque period, it uses and abuses the charm of Baroque costumes, full of details, wigs, lace and swords, as well as excellent scenery in the French castles and palaces of the time. Of course, as it is also a film deeply linked to music, some of Lully's best-known passages of music are well present. A movie that is undoubtedly a treat for the eyes and ears.