JEAN DE LA FONTAINE, FIDELE ET REBELLE

  • Direction

    Franck Dhelens

  • Author

    Jacques Forgeas

  • Coproduction

    with the participation of
    France 5
    and
    La Région Picardie
    Le Département de l’Aisne
    Le Pays du Sud de l’Aisne
    La Ville de Château-Thierry
    and of
    Centre National de la Cinématographie

  • Broadcaster

    France 5

Synopsis

On the morning of 5 September 1661 the streets of Paris echo with a thousand sounds: Fouquet, the powerful superintendant of finances has just been arrested by order of Colbert. The young Louis XIV now has complete control. When other artists bow to power and rush to serve the new king, one man opposes resistance and remains faithful to the deposed superintendant; this man is the poet Jean de la Fontaine. Colbert swears to bring the rebel to his knees, as he is the only artist in the kingdom to place his art above the king. Henceforth, the poet will never renounce his beliefs even in misery. Penniless, he resists, pokes fun, and writes fables and scathing pamphlets against the decadent despotic regime.

  • Available versions

    Version française

  • Format

    16/9

  • Support location

    BETA Numérique

  • Technical team

    Editing : Cecilia Pagliarini

  • Cast

    With the participation of :
    Marc Fumaroli
    Erik Orsenna
    Philippe Sollers

  • Festival

    Award for best direction, Ischia festival (Italy) in 2007