The series "Versailles": actors, plot, reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Released on television in 2015 (and for the Russian audience - in 2016), the series "Versailles" in terms of genre is a historical drama. Filmed mostly in France. The actors of the series "Versailles" come from the UK, USA, Canada. At the moment, viewers have already seen two seasons, the third is being prepared for release. The piece received many positive reviews for its carefully selected sets and period-appropriate costumes.

Description and genre

According to the plot of the television series "Versailles", the action takes place in the 17th century in France. The protagonist is Louis XIV or, as he was also called, the "Sun King". After the death of the Queen Mother, he becomes the ruler, but it is not easy to retain power. Louis decides to move the court from Paris to a new place and chooses Versailles as such (at that time it was a small town). The plot of the picture is based on events that took place in reality, but is largely supplemented by the director's vision, assumptions and conjectures. This is especially true of the complex relationships between the characters.

Most of the actors of the series "Versailles" are young people under the age of thirty. Pretty youngthere were also real prototypes. Filming took place not only in Versailles. The majestic castle of Pierrefonds, created by the architect F. Mansart, the Maisons-Laffitte Palace, near the city of Rambouillet, also got into the frames.

Cast

The main role went to the young Englishman George Blagden. Previously, he had already starred in a television series on a historical theme. In Vikings, George played the monk Æthelstan. The artist can also be seen in the films Les Misérables, Wrath of the Titans and some other films. According to viewers, Blagden was a great success in the role of Ludovic, he got used to the image well. It is worth noting that it is not so easy to recognize him in a wig with long curls and stockings.

Duke of Orleans in the picture appeared another serial British actor - Alexander Vlahos. He gained worldwide fame after the release of the serial film "Merlin". Among the actors of the series "Versailles" and a very young actress from Switzerland Noemi Schmidt. The girl became the decoration of the film, playing the role of Henrietta of England.

Sub-characters

Servant Alexander Bontana was played in the series by Stuart Bowman. And Anna Brewster, a British woman originally from Birmingham, was chosen for the role of the Marquise de Montespan. Previously, she starred in Star Wars, as well as in comedy series (Me and Mrs. Jones, Mercantile Girl).

Marquise as a character in reality was the favorite of Louis, which is shown in the movie. The young woman had a huge influence on the ruler infor many years. Another officially recognized favorite - Louise de La Vallière (in the film she was played by actress Sarah Winter, little known in Russia) - was her predecessor. The relationships between Louis and his women described in the movie actually existed, although they may have been supplemented by some fictional facts. Naturally, all the dialogues between the characters were invented.

Interesting facts about the series

The shooting took place near real palaces in France, including on the territory of Versailles. The stage design was taken seriously. Costumes, details of the entourage were prepared for several months. Even the scientific director of the palace at Versailles acted as a consultant. The plot of the film does not disappoint either: numerous plot twists, secrets and intrigues constantly keep the viewer in suspense. That is why the series became known not only in Europe. Among the French films ever released on television, "Versailles" is recognized as the most expensive. Significant sums of euros were spent on the purchase of materials for the costumes of the heroes. Making corsets for ladies, dresses, wigs is labor-intensive work, for which it was necessary to hire real professionals.

To attract attention and partly for the greatest authenticity, many explicit scenes are included in the film. Some of them were even removed from the TV Russian version.

All actors of the 2nd season of the series "Versailles"

The second season of the series also features ten episodes. A few years later, the construction of the palace continues, and together withthus new problems and intrigues appear in human relationships. Now even the Church does not support the king, and Louis is forced to continue his struggle for power and respect. As in the first season, the actors and roles of the series "Versailles" remained the same. Tai Runyan introduces the character Fabien Marshal, a security guard. This character is a fictional person invented by the writers. The role of the Chevalier de Lorrain, the main favorite of the Duke of Orleans, is still Evan Williams.

New faces this season include Suzanne Clement (representing Madame Agatha), Irish Catherine Walker (as Scarron).

Reviews from critics and viewers

The ratings of the series are quite high. Managed to sell it to more than hundreds of countries around the world, translated into many languages. Criticism of the French audience mainly fell on the cast, which includes mainly representatives of the British nation, and not true French. And film fans in the UK were not entirely satisfied with the presence of many erotic scenes in the film. In general, everyone notes that it was filmed beautifully, stunning scenery is used, and the acting is top notch.

You can say that the film was a success. Now it remains only to wait for its continuation. The storyline of the third season is still a mystery, the names of new actors and roles have not been announced. The creators of the series "Versailles" S. Mirren and D. Wolstencroft continue to act as screenwriters and producers of the film.