Louis, enfant roi (1993)
Directed by Roger Planchon

Film Review

Director Roger Planchon followed up his debut feature Dandin (1989), an adaptation of a Molière play, with this even more spectacular period piece, one that can hardly fail to impress with its high production values whilst irritating with its complex morass of historical detail.  Louis enfant roi is an amibitious film that attempts to show how the events of the 1648-1653 civil war (known as The Fronde) influenced the young Louis XIV before his coronation in 1654. Like Planchon's subsequent historical drama Lautrec (1998) it is a film that impresses visually but somehow it rings hollow and leaves you behind. To make any sense of the convoluted plot, you feel as if you need a degree in French history.

Whilst those who are intimately acquainted with this period of history will be able to follow the plot without too much difficulty, anyone else will struggle to make any sense of what is going on.  There is virtually no attempt to introduce the characters in the film or to develop anything resembling a coherent narrative, and for a film of this length (almost three hours), it must be considered something of an endurance test for most spectators.

To make matters worse, the characterisation generally appears rather weak and the portrayal of Prince Louis seems particularly artificial.  Is it reasonable to think that, aged 10, the young prince already saw himself as the Sun King, as the film repeatedly states?   There is little in Maxime Mansion's performance to suggest that he is playing one of the greatest figures in French history and the young actor's somewhat bland portrayal is one of the film's weaker points.

On a positive note, the film is a visual treat, vividly capturing the essence of the period in which it is set (including beautiful music from Louis XIV's favoured composer, Lully).  The extravagant sets and costumes, coupled with the somewhat obviously staged set pieces, suggest not so much a traditional historical film, but rather a living tapestry of a period of history.  Unfortunately, at a length of 160 minutes and with weak characterisation, that doesn't make it any easier to watch. Gérard Corbiau's similarly themed Le Roi danse (2000) may be far less substantial in narrative terms, but it is a more comfortable film to sit through.

Film Synopsis

France, 1648.  Whilst the nobility attempt to hold onto their power, the masses rise up in protest, and the country is torn by civil war and famine.  Barely ten years old, Louis, the prince regent, must learn to rule with wisdom and authority if he is to keep his country together.  After the death of his father, Louis XIII, the young prince looks to his mother, Anne of Austria, and loyal Cardinal Mazarin for support and direction.