Vatel (2000)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Roland Joffé

Writers:

Jeanne Labrune (writer)
Tom Stoppard (English adaptation)

Release Date:

10 May 2000 (Belgium)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Some men are too noble to live among aristocracy.

Plot:

In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly...

Plot Keywords:

Mistress | Chateau | Master Servant | Nobility | Gay

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	François Vatel
Uma Thurman	...	Anne de Montausier
Tim Roth	...	Marquis de Lauzun
Timothy Spall	...	Gourville
Julian Glover	...	Prince de Condé
Julian Sands	...	Louis XIV
Murray Lachlan Young	...	Philippe d'Orleans, 'Monsieur'
Hywel Bennett	...	Colbert
Richard Griffiths	...	Dr. Bourdelot
Arielle Dombasle	...	Princess de Condé
Marine Delterme	...	Athenaïs de Montespan
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu	...	Duchesse de Longueville
Jérôme Pradon	...	Marquis d'Effiat
Féodor Atkine	...	Alcalet
Nathalie Cerda	...	The Queen Marie-Thérèse

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some violence.

Runtime:

103 min | Argentina:125 min

Country:

France | UK | Belgium

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | France:U | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13

Company:

Légende Entreprises

Trivia:

The film opened the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the evening banquet on the second day, there are fireworks. The music played and sung (heard) is 'Music for the Royal Fireworks'. G. F. Handel composed this piece in 1749. The movie is set in 1671. It had not been composed by that time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Le cinéma passe à table (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Music for the Royal Fireworks

Depardieu is brilliant

Vatel, perhaps a weak title to a spectacular film; it recreates the excesses of the French court in its pre-off-with-their-heads-phase. In order to escape bankruptcy, the gout afflicted Viscount must entertain the King so sumptuously and so entreatingly, that the King may commission a war with Holland, thereby paying the Viscount's debts. To keep the King and his courtiers entertained, it was no small thing, so the entire countryside is enlisted in the feasts and entertainment. None will be paid unless the banquets are a success. Louis' entourage of Queen, mistresses, and waggish cavaliers run riot through the festivities. The fete is essentially an Olympic opening parade that goes on for three days in dazzling costume orchestrated by one great artist, the Viscount's steward, Vatel.

Vatel orchestrates the extravaganzas and falls for Uma Thurman, the King's new mistress. She is not yet the jaded courtesan and sees greatness in Vatel's can-do veneer. Indeed, Vatel is a man of integrity, denying the King's pedophile brother a young kitchen boy at the risk of his life. Vatel swats away meddling noblemen and women for the entire feast while making love to Thurman, star-crossed lovers though they are. Gerard Depardieu is brilliant even with his modest grasp of English.