This was a beautiful film about one long weekend in the country for King Louis XIV of France and the festivities and excesses surrounding him, his court, his staff, and the one man who organized it all – Vatel.
The sets were lavish, the countryside was beautiful, the palace was amazing, the clothes were lush. The kitchen was huge with hundreds working in it.
I only wish more time had been spent on the actual food – both prep and service – than on the sexcapades, ‘romances’, and bizarre proclivities and complete nastiness of the royal family. Less gout, more blown sugar sculptures. Less breast, more fish. Less bad behaviour and man chasing by the King’s brother, more custard.
If you like period dramas/films, this is a must watch. Great ending. I am sure many could find it as a modern day allegory for what they would rather do then work in certain large companies or politics. It was unexpected (at least for me), but fitting.
In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king’s newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who’s authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment