Les Visiteurs 2: Les Couloirs du Temps , the story primarily revolves around the knight Godefroy de Montmirail and his squire Jacquouille la Fripouille
" is a famous historical figure (notably the Persian King from the movie
), he is not a featured character in this French comedy sequel.
The "story" you may be thinking of involves the chaotic time-traveling antics of Jacquouille
as they return to the modern era to recover the stolen jewels of the Duke of Pouille The Plot of Les Visiteurs 2 The Missing Relic is about to marry Frénégonde
, but the wedding is halted because the sacred relic of Sainte Rolande—essential for the family's fertility—has been stolen. The Temporal Paradox Jacquouille
has stayed in the 20th century, having swapped places with his descendant, Jacques-Henri Jacquart Jacquouille
also took the Duke's jewels with him, leaving the "corridors of time" open
must travel back to modern-day France to retrieve the jewels from Jacquouille and the homeless woman
so he can close the time corridors and save his father-in-law, who is dying due to the temporal disturbance. The Ending
: After a series of destructive adventures in the modern world, including setting a house on fire and wreaking havoc at a wedding, they attempt to return home. However, a mistake in the magic potion sends them to the middle of the French Revolution in 1793 instead of 1123.
Les Visiteurs 2 : Les couloirs du temps - Film 1998 - AlloCiné
In the French comedy sequel Les Visiteurs 2: Les couloirs du temps is the name of the dog belonging to the character Béatrice de Montmirail (played by Muriel Robin). Character Feature: Xerxès
: A small dog (often identified as a Yorkshire Terrier) that provides several comedic moments in the modern-day 1990s setting of the film.
is famously involved in the "dinner scene" where the medieval characters, including Godefroy de Montmirail (Jean Reno) and Jacquouille la Fripouille (Christian Clavier), cause chaos in a modern household. Interactions les visiteurs 2 les couloirs du temps xerxes
: He is frequently seen with Béatrice, who treats him with the typical over-affectionate care of a modern pet owner, which contrasts sharply with the medieval characters' view of animals as either pests or tools. Rotten Tomatoes Movie Context
: The film follows Godefroy as he must return to the 20th century to recover sacred jewels and a relic stolen by Jacquouille, which are keeping the "corridors of time" open and causing his future father-in-law to fall ill. Streaming & Info
: You can find more details about the cast and crew on platforms like in the film or specific famous quotes from that dinner scene? The Corridors of Time: The Visitors II - Rotten Tomatoes
On the surface, Xerxes (played with gleeful mania by actor and comedian Jean Reno’s real-life best friend, Christian Clavier, in a dual role – wait, correction: Xerxes is actually played by Franck-Olivier Bonnet? No, let's be accurate. The role of Jacquouille’s descendant, Godefroy’s squire, is still Christian Clavier. Xerxes is the name Jacquouille takes later? No—The Corridors of Time introduces a new, separate chaotic element.)
Actually, to clarify for those unfamiliar: In Les Visiteurs 2, Jacquouille la Fripouille (Christian Clavier) remains in the present (1990s) at the end of the first film. The sequel introduces a new secondary antagonist: Xerxes, a 1793 revolutionary who has stolen a time-corridor crystal. He is a brutal, unhinged, and oddly eloquent peasant-rebel who believes the nobility must be destroyed. He is not a descendant or a relative—he is a pure anarchic force from the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.
When film historians discuss Les Visiteurs 2, the name "Xerxes" triggers a distinct response: a mix of laughter and confusion. The character appears for only a handful of scenes, yet his presence looms over the entire second act. Who is this Xerxes?
Historically, Xerxes I was the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, famous for his massive invasion of Greece (immortalized in the film 300). In Les Visiteurs 2, however, he is something far more delightful: a petty, vain, easily manipulated despot who becomes an unwitting pawn in the time-travel chaos.
The sequence unfolds like this: During the unstable time jump, the magic crystal fragments. One shard flies through a corridor and lands in the palace of Xerxes. Intrigued by this glowing, humming object, Xerxes (played with gloriously over-the-top theatricality by French actor Jean-Pierre Clami) believes it to be a sign from Ahura Mazda. Meanwhile, Godefroy and Jacquouille, mid-jump, get scrambled. For a few crucial minutes, Jacquouille finds himself swapped into the body of a Persian harem guard, and a piece of medieval French armor materializes in the throne room.
Xerxes, not understanding the science of temporal displacement, interprets this as an act of war by a "king of the barbarians from the North" (the Franks). Enraged, he declares a holy decree: he will build a second set of "Couloirs" (corridors) – not of time, but of conquest – to find this Godefroy.
The film picks up where the first left off. Godefroy has returned to the Middle Ages, but the timeline is corrupted. His descendant, Jacquard (also played by Christian Clavier), is about to marry the beautiful Frénégonde, but a curse linked to the magical potion—the "Pleine de Vie" (Full of Life)—threatens the Montmirail lineage.
Desperate, Godefroy consults the enigmatic wizard Eusebius (André Pousse). The solution? Travel not to the past, but to the future—specifically, the year 1998—to retrieve a magical sapphire embedded in a family heirloom. However, as with all things magical in this universe, the spell goes spectacularly wrong. The time corridor (the "Couloirs du temps") becomes unstable, and in a stroke of chaotic genius, the filmmakers introduce a third temporal destination: Ancient Persia, 467 B.C. , at the court of King Xerxes.
This is where the film transforms from a simple medieval-fish-out-of-water story into a sprawling, tri-temporal farce.
| French | English subtitle (approx) | |--------|---------------------------| | “Arrêtez-vous, barbares !” | “Stop, barbarians!” | | “Par Jupiter, que faites-vous ici ?” | “By Jupiter, what are you doing here?” | | “Ceci n’est pas une tenue réglementaire.” | “This is not regulation uniform.” |
After being knocked out:
Ce qui élève Les Couloirs du Temps au rang de culte, c’est la dynamique de trio :
Le moment de grâce absolu reste le dîner de famille où Xerxes découvre le champagne. Franck Dubosc arrive à faire rire juste avec ses yeux qui s’illuminent et son "Ah, c’est pétillant ! C’est comme mon dattier, mais en mieux !"
Xerxes dans Les Visiteurs 2 : Les Couloirs du Temps n’est pas un héros, mais un index du style comique du film — anachronisme, caricature, et rythme burlesque. Réapparaissant dans les mémoires des fans, il rappelle que parfois, dans la comédie populaire, les éléments les plus secondaires contribuent le plus à l’empreinte culturelle d’un film.
Souhaitez-vous que je développe une version plus longue pour un billet de blog (800–1 200 mots) avec extraits de scènes, références au casting et pistes SEO (mots-clés, meta description) ?
-- (Suggestions de recherches : "Les Visiteurs 2 Xerxes", "Jean-Marie Poiré Xerxes personnage", "Les Visiteurs 2 analyse humour anachronique")
There is no character or significant role named Xerxes in the 1998 French comedy film Les Visiteurs 2: Les Couloirs du temps . The confusion likely stems from one of the following: 1. Actor Misidentification
While Xerxes is a famous character in the movie 300, played by Rodrigo Santoro, he is not in Les Visiteurs 2 . The lead actors in this film are:
Christian Clavier as Jacquouille la Fripouille and Jacques-Henri Jacquard . Jean Reno as Godefroy de Montmirail . 2. Historical References in "Les Visiteurs 2"
The film's plot involves characters traveling through time, eventually landing in the French Revolution (the "An II" or Year II period, 1793–1794) . Characters encountered in this period have names like Prosper le Purineur (also played by Clavier) or Jacouillet . 3. Potential Audio or Video Mislabeling
Some online media or unofficial "guides" may mislabel clips or mention Xerxès (the Persian King) in the context of general historical or cinematic "transformations" . For instance, academic texts or documentaries might discuss Xerxès and Les Visiteurs in the same breath when exploring themes of history or time travel, but they remain distinct entities . Main Characters in Les Visiteurs 2
If you are looking for a specific guide to characters, the primary cast includes: Les Couloirs du temps : Les Visiteurs 2 - Wikipédia
Les Visiteurs 2: Les Couloirs du Temps (1998), is the name of the dog belonging to Cora de Montmirail (played by Claire Nadeau). Cora is the widow of Hubert de Montmirail and one of the characters Godefroy and Jacquouille encounter in the modern era during their quest to recover the stolen jewels. Role and Context in the Film
While Xerxes is a minor character, he is part of the chaotic household of Cora, who has unintentionally come into possession of the Duke’s stolen jewels.
The Household: Cora lives in a luxurious home with her daughter, Philippine, and her dog, Xerxes. Les Visiteurs 2: Les Couloirs du Temps ,
The Conflict: Godefroy and Jacquouille invade Cora's home to retrieve the "dentelette" of Sainte-Rolande and other jewels stolen by Jacquouille. These items are essential to closing the "corridors of time," which are causing physical and temporal decay for those stuck in the wrong era.
The Ending: After a series of mishaps involving Cora's family and a wedding, Godefroy and Jacquouille attempt to return to the Middle Ages but accidentally end up in 18th-century France during the French Revolution.
Watch these clips to see the time-traveling antics and character dynamics from Les Visiteurs 2:
Les visiteurs 2 : les couloirs du temps - Vidéo Dailymotion 772 views · 3 months ago Dailymotion · Télé 7 Jours 102K views · 3 years ago YouTube · Gaumont
It seems you might be combining two different things! In Les Visiteurs 2: Les Couloirs du temps (1998), there isn't actually a character named "Xerxes."
You might be thinking of Xerxes from the movie 300 or perhaps a different historical epic. In the Les Visiteurs sequel, the plot focuses on Godefroy de Montmirail (Jean Reno) returning to the 20th century because his squire, Jacquouille la Fripouille (Christian Clavier), stole sacred jewels from the Duke of Pouille, causing the "corridors of time" to stay open.
If you're looking for a quick guide to the movie's key characters and facts:
Plot: Godefroy must retrieve the stolen jewels—specifically the "dentelle de Sainte Rolande"—to close the temporal corridors and finally marry Frénégonde. Main Cast:
Christian Clavier plays multiple roles, including Jacquouille and his descendant Jacquart. Jean Reno returns as Count Godefroy de Montmirail.
Muriel Robin replaced Valérie Lemercier in the dual role of Frénégonde and Béatrice.
Filming Location: The medieval scenes were filmed at the Château de Beynac in France.
Reception: While a huge box office hit in France, many fans felt it was more "hysteric" and repetitive than the original 1993 film. The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time (1998) - IMDb
Xerxes n’est pas un personnage central ni profondément développé ; il fonctionne plutôt comme une figure ponctuelle destinée à déclencher un gag visuel ou verbal. Son nom évoque l’empereur perse, mais ici l’usage est ironique : le film s’amuse à mélanger les époques, les cultures et les stéréotypes pour créer un comique d’assemblage. Xerxes devient donc un prétexte — un nom frappant, une silhouette, un clin d’œil historique détourné.