THE KING IS DANCING/ LE ROI DANSE

Belgium, 2000, 115 minutes,.Colour.
Benoit Magimel, Boris Terral, Tcheky Karyo, Colette Emmanuelle.
Directed by Gerard Corbiau.

This is the third film about music from Belgian director Gerard Corbiau. He also made The Music Teacher and Farinelli. This time the focus is on the French composer Jean-Baptiste? Lully. The other central characters of the film are King Louis XIV and the dramatist Moliere. The film traces the interaction between the three characters, their mutual support, devotion, falling out.

There is a great deal of Lully's music, especially the ballets and the eagerness of the young Louis XIV to be a dancer. There are also the collaborations with Moliere, especially on Tartuffe. However, Tartuffe is condemned by the right-wing Catholics as well as the conservative nobles and the occasion is taken to condemn Lully for his dissolute and bisexual life.

The film recreates the atmosphere of the court of Louis XIV with great detail, shades of light and darkness, elaborate costumes and décor. Benoit Magimel, winner of awards for his role in The Piano Teacher at Cannes, portrays Louis XIV. Boris Terral is Lully himself. Character actor Tcheky Karyo portrays Moliere.

While the film gives some insight into the period, it also portrays a genius set in his historical context, with his personal and professional struggles.

Other films of the 1990s which portray the music and art of the 18th century include All the Mornings of the World, Ridicule and, especially, Marquise, where Moliere and Racine are characters.


1. The films of the director, his interest in music, opera, dance, theatre?

2. Audience response to the world of Louis XIV, the Sun King, his background, his father and the kingdom, artistic legacy? The long reign of Louis XIV, his building up of France, the developments of Versailles? His being a patron of the arts, of the theatre, music? The film suggesting his love for and skills in dancing?

3. The recreation of the period, the 17th century, the lavish court, costumes and decor, the vistas of Versailles, the gardens, the Palace and the interiors? The audience immersed in the era of Louis XIV?

4. Jean-Baptiste? Lully, his Italian origins, his personality, his musical compositions, his place in the court, his relationships, bisexuality? His relationship with Louis XIV, infatuation with him? His compositions, skills, musicians? The interactions with Moliere? Moods, temperament, achievement? This collaboration on The Bourgeois Gentleman?

5. The character of Moliere, his talent, is place, performance, influence of the King? The fact that there were many other playwrights during the reign of Louis XIV, Racine, Corneille?

6. The King, his personality, his age, ambitions, achievement? The interactions of France, divine right? His relationships? The influence of Anne Austria? Reactions to his mother? The influence of his mother’s entourage?

7. His personal relationships, marital, extramarital? Madame Montespan, a sense of his isolation, even loneliness? The building of Versailles? The fostering of Lully and his music? Promoting Moliere? The discussions with the composers and playwrights?

8. The title of the film, the focus on Louis and his dancing, and ambition, his skills, what it meant to him?

9. The people in court, men and women, the many courtiers, their lives, work, gossip, relationships? The historical figures, Colbert, Conti, and the politicians and diplomats?

10. The baroque style of the film – bringing to life a baroque era?