The King's Daughters

In 1685, Madame de Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XIV, founds a boarding school for daughters of the penniless aristocracy. This unexpectedly convincing, at times darkly comedic period piece follows the school's deterioration through the conflict between its promising pupils Anne and Lucie and their relationship to the ruthless Madame de Maintenon, played with exquisite subtlety by Isabelle Huppert.

Based on a true story and brimming with historical characters from Louis XIV to Racine, Saint-Cyr is a fascinating portrait of a period of extravagant decadence.