The Death of Louis XIV

2016 1h 55m FR

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 100

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

August 1715. After going for a walk, Louis XIV feels a pain in his leg. The next days, the king keeps fulfilling his duties and obligations, but his sleep is troubled and he has a serious fever. He barely eats and weakens increasingly. This is the start of the slow agony of the greatest king of France, surrounded by his relatives and doctors.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

MUBISubscription

MUBI Amazon ChannelSubscription

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

YouTubeRent

Fandango At HomeRent

Apple TV StoreBuy

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Jean-Pierre Léaud
Louis XIV
Patrick d'Assumçao
Fagon, le médecin
Marc Susini
Blouin, le valet de chambre
Bernard Belin
Mareschal, le chirurgien
Irène Silvagni
Madame de Maintenon
Vicenç Altaió
Le Brun
Jacques Henric
Père Le Tellier
Alain Lajoinie
Le Pelletier

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Albert Serra
Writers: Thierry Lounas, Albert Serra
Languages: French, German, Latin
Countries: France, Spain, Portugal

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, German, Latin.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Spain, Portugal.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Louis XIV's Death Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Albert Serra, shot by Jonathan Ricquebourg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Marc Verdaguer. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ariadna Ribas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jean-Pierre Léaud and Patrick d'Assumçao and Marc Susini carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Albert Serra directs. Jonathan Ricquebourg behind the camera. Marc Verdaguer scores. Ariadna Ribas cuts. Produced in France, Spain, Portugal. Dialogue in French, German, Latin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 10 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, German, Latin.
3International production across 3 countries: France, Spain, Portugal.
4Part of the "Louis XIV's Death Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Albert Serra, shot by Jonathan Ricquebourg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Marc Verdaguer. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Ariadna Ribas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Jean-Pierre Léaud and Patrick d'Assumçao and Marc Susini carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt5129510 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jonathan Ricquebourg
Original score: Marc Verdaguer
Editing: Ariadna Ribas
Production design: Sebastián Vogler
Costume design: Nina Avramovic
Makeup / hair: Antoine Mancini
Sound: Branko Neškov
Runtime: 115 min · 1h 55m
Status: Released
Box office: $17,355
Original language: FR
IMDB: The Death of Louis XIV (2016)

Part of

Louis XIV's Death Collection

From Albert Serra.

Also by

Albert Serra

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2023-04-19
★ 7/10
I was wondering, as I watched this, just how the last few days of Queen Elizabeth II - herself reigning for almost as long - might have looked in comparison with this depiction of the last few days of the acclaimed 'Sun King". Somehow, I doubt she would have been surrounded by quite such a grouping of acolytes and sycophants. Such a collection of quacks and hangers-on riddled with an obsequiousness that would have made "Obadiah Slope" blush. The King has taken to his bed, at the age of 76, suffering from acute pains in his leg. Perched, rather uncomfortably, and adorned with a wig that would not have looked out of place on a lion, we spend the next few days watching this once great, stylish, flamboyant and shrewd man edge towards his meeting with his maker. Jean-Pierre Léaud doesn't really have a great deal to do here - occasionally sip some wine, or eat a biscuit, or take a short stroll around his couch. For the most part he lies there, breathing heavily, allowing the establishment around him to gradually unravel. His long-term lover Mme. de Maintenon (Irène Silvagni) is his principal source of comfort, Marc Susini his valet - a far grander role than the title suggests, tries to keep him contented and a collection of doctors all busy themselves about him - largely without the faintest idea of what is actually wrong much less how to treat their ailing monarch. If you are looking for something with pace, then this is certainly not for you. What Albert Serra delivers here is almost like a fly-on-the-wall documentary depicting the decline not just of the man, but of everything his life has stood for. The costumes look great and film relies on a lighting regime that is entirely plausible - if a little lacking in lux at times. The audio could maybe have been doing with a bit of a boost, but the serene effort from Léaud and the scenario itself provides adequate compensation as we, quite literally, watch the end of an era. On balance, I reckon the late Queen probably had a more private, and medically more competent, time of it....

Production companies