The King's Daughter

In the 17th century, a France in the midst of cultural and scientific revolution, King Louis XIV (played by Pierce Brosnan) stands at the pinnacle of power and grandeur. His ambition and quest for immortality are insatiable, driving him to seek out any means necessary to extend his life and reign. It is in pursuit of this goal that the King becomes aware of a mythical creature with extraordinary properties: a mermaid. Legend has it that the mermaid possesses the elixir of life, a magical essence capable of granting eternal youth and vitality to whoever possesses it. King Louis XIV's obsession with the mermaid grows, and he sets his sights on capturing and harnessing her life force. In the dead of night, his men sail out to sea in an attempt to capture the elusive creature. Meanwhile, in the palace, King Louis XIV's illegitimate daughter, Marie-Josèphe (played by Kaya Scodelario), is unaware of her father's quest for immortality. Born from a clandestine affair, Marie-Josèphe has always felt like a secret, a hidden truth that is not to be spoken of. Her life is marked by isolation and loneliness, observing the grandeur of the palace from the shadows. As news of the mermaid's capture spreads, the court is thrown into an uproar. The King's obsession with the creature grows, and he orders his men to bring him the mermaid's elixir at any cost. But as the mermaid, a young and fiery creature named Arc-en-Ciel (played by Juliette Lewis), is dragged from the sea and thrown into a golden cage, Marie-Josèphe begins to sense a connection to the magical being. Marie-Josèphe spends hours gazing at the mermaid, mesmerized by her song and her luminescent scales. She becomes convinced that the mermaid is more than just a creature – she is a kindred spirit, a fellow outcast who understands the pain of isolation and loneliness. As their bond grows, Marie-Josèphe begins to question her father's motives and the morality of keeping the mermaid captive. Torn between her loyalty to her father and her affinity for the mermaid, Marie-Josèphe takes matters into her own hands, using her wit and cunning to outmaneuver the King's men and free the mermaid from her prison. As the mermaid swims free, Marie-Josèphe feels a sense of redemption, as if she has finally found a connection that validates her own existence. However, the consequences of Marie-Josèphe's actions are far-reaching. King Louis XIV, enraged by his daughter's defiance, orders her to be imprisoned in the tower for her transgression. But as Marie-Josèphe sits in her cell, she realizes that the true freedom was not her own release, but rather the freedom to connect with the mermaid, a being who understands her pain and her sorrow. As for King Louis XIV, his quest for immortality ultimately proves to be his undoing. Arc-en-Ciel's song, which has been the source of his fascination, holds a secret: it has the power to kill. When the King attempts to harness her life force, he is met with a devastating fate – the elixir turns out to be a poison, and the King falls ill, his life force slowly ebbing away. In the end, as the King lies dying, Marie-Josèphe, now freed from her cell, stands by the mermaid's side. Together, they watch as the King's life force disappears, his once-mighty body crumbling to dust. With a heavy heart, Marie-Josèphe bids farewell to her father, knowing that she has finally found the freedom and acceptance she has always craved. The movie ends with Marie-Josèphe and Arc-en-Ciel walking together out of the castle, the moon shining bright in the night sky. The mermaid's song lingers in the air, a haunting melody that speaks of love, redemption, and the power of connection. As the camera pans out, the palace gates close behind them, marking the beginning of a new era, one in which the secrets of the past will be left behind, and the true meaning of freedom will be discovered.