Louis Enfant Roi (Louis, the Child King) is a 1993 French historical film directed and written by Roger Planchon.
It chronicles the youth of King of France Louis XIV (Maxime Mansion), when he was just above eleven years old and had to learn to become a king amidst the Fronde civil wars in the late 1640s - early 1650s under the tutelage of both his mother Anne of Austria (Carmen Maura) and Cardinal Mazarin (Paolo Graziosi).
Louis, the Child King provides examples of:
- Artistic License – History: The Lully music pieces used in the film were composed into Louis XIV's adulthood in the 1660s and 1670s, not during his childhood.
- Baroque Music: The soundtrack is mostly made of this, with compositions of baroque musician Jean-Baptiste Lully most prominently.
- The Cavalier Years: The story is set in mid-17th century kingdom of France.
- A Child Shall Lead Them: Louis is just above eleven and must learn how to rule as the King of France admist the Fronde civil wars while his mother, Anne of Austria, served as regent. .
- Civil War: The Fronde era
. - Dead Person Conversation: The ghost of his father talks to Louis.
- Fleur-de-lis: The symbol of French royalty, which is naturally featured on banners and royal regalia.
- Forced to Watch: Louis is forced to watch the bodies of the men who died fighting against the Fronde for him to make a point about the sacrifices needed to secure royal power and order.
- Fourth-Wall Observer: As soon as the film starts, the young Duke of Anjou Philippe d'Orléans (Jocelyn Quivrin) turns at the camera and talks about his brother Louis. He keeps doing this over the course of the film.
- Ruler Protagonist: The film is about the early days of Louis XIV's rule as King of France when he was still a child.
- A Taste of the Lash: Philippe d'Orléans is whipped on his naked butt for being too cheeky.
