(2000) The king's visit would be an awful occasion, unless, of course, one could profit from it. In April 1671, King Louis XIV of France (Julian Sands) chose to meet with envoys from Holland - to determine relations of peace or war between the two wealthy countries - at the estate of Prince de Condé (Julian Glover), following a simple, rustic pastime, with the expectation that his host would spare no expense for extravagance and ingenuity. Compared with such an undertaking, "war with the Dutch would be a picnic."

Unfortunately the prince, suffering from gout, is nearly bankrupt; however, in the event of hostilities, the king will need Condé as a general and be grateful as well as generous for valiant services rendered to France. When the prince's creditors, upon whom he depends for all the provisions and services to entertain the king, refuse to extend further credit, François Vatel (Gérard Depardieu), the prince's chief steward, convinces them that the only way in which they will ever be paid what they are owed is to comply, having the prince's promise of payment in full if the king is completely satisfied with the feasts and festivities. These commoners are Vatel's people; he knows them well, and they trust him implicitly.

When the king and queen and their court, 600 persons in all, arrive, they bring with them their intrigues and bad behavior from Versailles. The poor should feel honored, Vatel is told, to be creditors to the king's hearty enjoyment; he replies that for such honor his parents died.

For refusing to allow Colin, a child, to be used as sexual sport, the king's brother warns the steward of the Bourbons' unpredictability when deprived of their pleasures. When asked to make arrangements for Anne de Montausier (Uma Thurman), a recent arrival to the court with her heart still intact, to attend the king in his bedroom at midnight (such may be understood of the term "ladies-in-waiting" upon the king's summons), Vatel replies that he is not a pimp.

Employing his vast experience, creativity, and imagination, Vatel directs the preparation of food and elaborate outdoor amusements, finding substitutions for shortages and breakage, turning melons into lanterns. As master of the festivities, he explains to Colin, while producing crystallized fruit gifts, that beauty is "harmony and contrast."

Harmony and contrast are the elements director Roland Joffé brings together for a sumptuous costume drama, screenplay adapted into English by Tom Stoppard, based on a historical event.

"It is no small thing to please a king," admits Vatel to Anne, realizing herself to be perhaps nothing more than a royal diversion to keep Madame de Montespan "on her toes or knees," thanks him for his kindnesses to her, warning him to beware of Marquis de Lauzun (Tim Roth): "The destiny of France is in your hands."

With Gourville (Timothy Spall) - referring to himself as Condé's moon in the prince's orbit around the Sun King - as an ally, Vatel, who not only can quote the great Cartesian philosopher but personally knew Descartes, makes a strong impression upon the king's brother, both sharing "a desire for the absolute, the perfect, the sublime."

As the king and his royal entourage enjoy the extravaganza of fireworks, music, and fantastic machinery, behind the scenes a groom is killed in an accident; when Vatel is summoned by the king's messenger to personally receive the monarch's praise for a "wonderful spectacle," the steward declines, saying he is "too busy." During a game of cards, just as the envoys arrive, the king challenges the prince to stake his steward against jewels from the Louvre.

On the final day Friday, with war and peace in the balance, realizing that he is more slave than master of the ceremonies, Vatel, preferring his freedom, prepares to serve his last magnificent feast on behalf of the prince to secure the king's favor, but with bad weather and rough roads, the expected carts of fresh fish fail to arrive.

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Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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