This film presents an absorbing narrative, overseen by Alan Rickman, who also appears as Louis XIV, the French monarch seeking a fresh garden design for Versailles. He enlists André Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts), his chief landscaper, who finds himself lacking inspiration and consequently searches for assistance. Numerous celebrated horticulturalists submit their meticulously balanced plans, but none appeal to the …

While visually appealing and pleasant to look at, this movie has numerous issues. It’s easy to recognize the Palace of Versailles as one of Europe’s most recognizable buildings—and not just because of its influence (it was imitated across Europe and continues to inspire artists and architects), but also due to the sense of mystery it holds; a representation of luxury, sophistication, and power, formalized and ritu…

I wasn’t really prepared for this movie's plot, and that’s what made it enjoyable. Typically, historical films focus on romance or battles, but this one demonstrated there are many other subjects to explore with an audience. Romance does play a role, and I appreciated how it was mixed with the central theme of engineering, particularly gardening. It ranks among the best period dramas I've watched, and the entire cast…