This film from Belgian director Gérard Corbiau is loosely based on a study by Philippe Beaussante entitled Lully ou le musicien du soleil concerning the life of Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687), composer and conductor to the court of Louis XIV. Louis XIV (1638-1715) was crowned at age five but took charge of things only in 1661 after the death of Cardinal Mazarin. He was fond of dancing as a boy and in 1651 performed publicly for the first time in Ballet de la Nuit accompanied by Lully. The composer later wrote other ballets for the young king and became his trusted adviser. At the king’s request he also composed music for the plays of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (better known as MoliŹre). The film focuses on the relationship between the king, Lully and MoliŹre, friendly for a time, later tainted by envy and especially by the coolness of the young monarch who had meanwhile matured into the Sun King.