The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake

A slow-burning, talky plunge into court intrigue, where ambition and envy curdle into a quiet, inevitable downfall.

Created by

Laurent Heynemann

Genres

Drama

Starring

Lorànt Deutsch, Thierry Frémont, Sara Giraudeau

Tagline

To shine too brightly is to challenge the sun.

Overview

"The king, the squirrel and the grass snake" is a two‑part French historical drama set in 17th‑century Paris, following the intense rivalry between Nicolas Fouquet, the brilliant and flamboyant Superintendent of Finances, and Jean‑Baptiste Colbert, the calculating administrator determined to bring him down. As Fouquet rises in power, wealth, and prestige—building the magnificent château of Vaux‑le‑Vicomte and securing Mazarin’s favor—his influence begins to alarm the young Louis XIV. Colbert seizes the opportunity to undermine his rival, weaving a political trap that will reshape the future of the kingdom. Through court intrigues, shifting alliances, and the growing authority of the Sun King, the film portrays the fall of a man who shone too brightly and the birth of absolute monarchy in France.

How it feels

Tense, melancholic, cynical and dark. Slow-burning and needs your attention.

About

Power, ambition, betrayal, politics

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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