During the pre-revolutionary reign of Louis XVI, a young engineer travels to Versailles to petition the king to help him save the people of his region from a mosquito infestation. Upon his arrival, the naive country squire discovers lust in the form of a widowed countess, love in the form of his host's beautiful daughter, ultimate power in the form of wit, and the ultimate weapon in the form of ridicule. Patrice Leconte's lavish, superbly written costume drama was a BAFTA winner and nominated for both an Oscar and the Palm D'Or.