The King's Daughter

This is a fairy tale about the search for immortality by the Sun King, about a mermaid and an energetic, ardent illegitimate daughter who grew up in a monastery, a talented cellist who has no idea who her father is, even when he calls her to enliven her yard with music. There is a cruel, benevolent court doctor, a patient palace padre, and a dashing pirate captain who was blackmailed into taking on the job of delivering a sea siren in order to save "the longest reigning monarch in history" from the inconveniences associated with death. The daughter must fend off the suitor, the heartless doctor and the blasphemous desire of the vain king to live forever in order to save the mermaid, who silently calls to her, one musician to another. The mermaid effect, which is partly considered one of the reasons why Paramount did not release this film, is more than successful in this version. The acting is never less than adequate, with flashes of wit-Brosnan and Hurt as Louis and his priest/confidant sharing a "confession" at the foot of his scandalous bed-and cordiality. Yes, some interesting aspects of the plot have not been properly developed. Rachel Griffiths gives some spark to the scenes with her daughter in the monastery as the most beautiful abbess, but the musical connection between the cellist/potential composer and the mermaid has not been properly developed, and palace intrigues have very low stakes.