The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

Athos, Porthos, D'Artagnan, and Aramis.

Aramis: I have come to ask whether you believe that just as one lie can destroy a life, so one truth can make it whole again.
Queen Anne: I have prayed every day for such a miracle.

Adviser: There are riots in Paris.
Louis: Riots?  But Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. Why should my people feel anything but pride and contentment?
Adviser: Well, I'm sure they are content - and proud - but they are also starving.

Queen Anne.

Portrait of the real Queen Anne.

The Man in the Iron Mask is a movie based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas.  It is set, like Vatel (previously reviewed), during the reign of Louis XIV.  While it was not popular with the critics, I really enjoyed it.

Christine.

Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio, who was excellent playing dual roles), is a cold, ruthless ruler, who cares nothing for his people, and desires only to satisfy his own needs.  For example, when he spots a young woman called Christine (Judith Godreche, who played Mathilde in Ridicule) and is attracted to her, he sends her love, Raoul (son of Athos), to the front to have him killed so that he can make her his mistress.

The loyal Captain of the King's Musketeers is D'Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne).  D'Artagnan steadfastly protects the King in spite of his cruelty, and despite pressure from his friends and former Musketeers, Athos (John Malkovich), Aramis (Jeremy Irons), and Porthos (Gerard Depardieu), who believe the King should be deposed:

D'Artagnan: You cannot ask me to betray my king. I have sworn an oath.
Athos: When a king is dishonorable, you are removed from your oath of honor.
D'Artagnan: An oath is an oath precisely because it cannot be removed.
Athos: Why do you follow him, D'Artagnan?  Why?  What we fought for is greater than king or rank or reward!  What do you fight for now?
D'Artagnan: I fight for the belief that every man can be better, even Louis.

Louis looking at his brother's mask.

Portrait of the real King Louis XIV of France.

Athos, Aramis, and Porthos work together to free a mysterious prisoner wearing an iron mask from the Bastille.  When the mask is removed, the man inside is revealed to be identical to the King -he is, in fact, his twin brother, who was taken away to the country at birth in order to avoid the two brothers vying for the throne.  When Louis became King, he had his twin imprisoned and put in the mask to hide his identity.  Their mother, Anne of Austria, was told that the boy, Phillipe, had died at birth.

Louis and Phillipe.

The three friends develop a plan to replace Louis with Phillipe, but first they must get past D'Artagnan, who is loyal to the King beyond what they can understand for reasons of his own.

I enjoy this movie, and have seen it multiple times.  I love the soundtrack and listen to it periodically.  The costumes and settings are beautiful.  It  is romantic, and while sad a times, still retains humor, adventure, and hope.