La Prise de pouvoir par Louis XIV (1966)
Directed by Roberto Rossellini

Film Review

Commissioned for French television, La Prise de pouvoir par Louis XIV is a historical drama which is much closer to the austere naturalism of Bresson that to the conventional period epic popularised by directors such as Jean Delannoy and Sacha Guitry.  With its near-documentary style cinematography, the film attempts to paint an intimate portrait of the life of the Sun King at the start of his glorious reign, beginning with the death of his mentor Mazarin and ending with the formation of the court at Versailles.

The film has none of the grandeur and scale of traditional films about the period, tending to overlook major incidents whilst dwelling excessively on the minutiae of royal life.  The intention presumably was to show the king (perhaps France's greatest historical figure, after Napoléon and Joan of Arc) as an ordinary man, to emphasise his vulnerability and limitations.  Whilst this is commendable, you do wonder how the lethargic, cautious figure which is portrayed in this film could ever have ended up becoming the most powerful man in France, the catalyst for possibly the biggest political and cultural upheaval the country has ever known.  Nonetheless, this is a curious work, which at least partly redresses the balance when it comes to relating historical events in a realistic way, without resorting to gimmicky sensationalisation.

Film Synopsis

France, 1661.  As the once powerful Cardinal Mazarin lies dying in his bedroom at Vincennes, the young Louis XIV readies himself to take over the reins of power and guide his country's destiny like his fathers before him.  When Mazarin dies, the 22-year old king loses not only a great man of state but also the loyalist and worthiest of friends.  Now he finds himself alone, surrounded by enemies - noblemen and representatives of the Church who are unwilling to give up their power and allow the upstart monarch to take control.  Before he can claim the power that is his by right, Louis must first find a way to impose his authority on those who seek to undermine him with their court intrigues and cunning deceptions...