THE FINAL GRUESOME DAYS OF LOUIS XIV'S REIGN, AS IT HAPPENED

Cinemavixion Review

This documentary offers a fascinating, albeit somber, look into the twilight of an extraordinary reign. It meticulously reconstructs the final weeks of Louis XIV, the "Sun King," charting his physical decline from gangrene while simultaneously highlighting his unwavering commitment to the public rituals of his court. The narrative skillfully portrays the stark contrast between the king's internal suffering and the external performance of majesty, underscoring the theatricality that defined Bourbon monarchy. The account of his death and the subsequent, swift overturning of his will, leading to the elaborate funeral and the accession of the young Louis XV, provides a compelling glimpse into the machinations of power and the inevitable transition of eras. The film's detailed exploration of this pivotal moment in French history, from illness to burial, is both educational and dramatically engaging.