Vatel
Released: 2000
History, Drama, Romance
In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king's newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who's authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Timothy Spall, Julian Glover, Julian Sands, Murray Lachlan Young, Hywel Bennett
Directed by: Roland Joffé
Written by: Jeanne Labrune
Language: English, French
Scenes
A woman stands in a room and pees into a chamber pot that is held by another woman. A faint tinkle is heard but the stream is not visible, and the scene ends quickly as King Louis XIV (Julian Sands) enters the room.