Que La Fête Commence

Starring Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort and Jean-Pierre Marielle, this historical drama is set in France 1719, Philippe II Duke of Orléans is the regent for the young Louis XV a sophisticated, gentle libertine, he endeavours to keep his subjects cultured and happy - mainly to stop the peasants from rising - but he knows he has no real royal authority. To assist him, Philippe enlists the aid of an atheistic and venal priest named Guillaume Dubois. A rebellion led by a Breton squire named Pontcallec occurs, Dubois attempts to take advantage of the revolt and subsequent famine to become archbishop. The second film Tavernier wrote and directed, subsequently winning a César Award for both.