Sovereign's Servant, The

What is characteristic of this film is the year it was made, i.e., 2007, when the economic boom and the price of oil and natural gas, which form the backbone of the Russian budget, soared to a maximum. Film production corresponded to this, as both the number of films produced per year climbed to an impressive hundred, and respectable budgets were evident in the films. The Sovereign's Servant is a historical costume epic that, rather than resembling American films, reminds us of French historical films of the past. The fact that the story begins in Versailles is no coincidence. The inspiration from films that once made Jean Marais famous is clear. It does indeed feature exciting sword fights, battles, brawls, beautiful women, and decorations and costumes. It's not something profound, just a typical commercial film that can still entertain decently. Overall impression: 65%. (04/07/2009)