Molière 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme' and 'Tartuffe' and his own life M Jourdaine a complete fool

You do not have to be familiar with the works of Molière to enjoy this film, though it's much, much more likely you will if you have seen or read his plays. This is because the plot and style of this film is very strongly inspired by his plays--particularly "Le Bourgeoise Gentilhomme" and "Tartuffe". So, for the unfamiliar, I'd rate the film a 6 and for the lovers of Molière, I'd score this film an 8.

The film is a tad difficult to follow as it does not follow a liner timeline. In fact it bounces around a bit. This is hard to follow because Romain Duris (as Molière) looks pretty much the same through the 13 year course of the film. When the film begins, it is at the present time. Then, Molière has a flashback where he remembers what life was like BEFORE he became famous--13 years earlier. At that time, he was briefly in prison for bad debts (something the author actually did have happen to him) but was rescued by a rich member of the Bourgeoise, Mr. Jourdaine. However, Jourdaine did not do this for strictly noble reasons--he wanted Molière to help him in his efforts to win the heart of a young woman. However, Jourdaine is already married (to a lovely lady he sadly neglects) and there isn't a prayer the young woman will return his advances. What's to become of all this? See the film.

The story plays much like a production by Molière--combined with a few facts from the playwright's life. In the end, everything is wrapped up perfectly and the film is lovely--with great sets and a terrific script. But it's also the sort of costume drama that might bore many--as most folks (especially non-French viewers) today probably have little, if any, interest in this sort of thing. It's a shame, as it is quite lovely and engaging--particularly as the movie progresses.

This movie is a true delight for Moliere's fans.A good knowledge of his plays is useful but the screenplay is strong enough to grab someone who is not particularly interested in them.The story is essentially based on "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" (aka "the middle class gentleman" ) and "Tartuffe" with elements borrowed from "Le Misanthrope" ,"Les Femmes Savantes" ,"L'Avare " and "Les Fourberies De Scapin" .Now the lines are directly taken from the writer ,now they are written in his style .Each character represents two or three other characters:the wonderful Fabrice Lucchini is Monsieur Jourdain and Orgon,Romain Duris is Molière and Tartuffe ,Laura Morante is Elmire and Madame Jourdain and the excellent Edouard Baer ,Dorante ,Alceste and some kind of "Grand Turc" .

Agatha Christie disappeared when her husband left her and as nobody knew what she did in those days they made a movie about it in the late seventies ("Agatha" ,Michael Apted).So why not Molière?In France ,some critics such as the reliable Claude Bouliq Mercier slagged off Tirard's movie ,proving that they can be prodigious snobs themselves sometimes;of course they spoke in the name of culture,of art ,of Molière -who -was one-more-time-betrayed ,they do not have any sense of humor.

Molière meeting his famous characters before writing his plays (after all they were inspired by the society he lived in) is pure fiction,and should not be taken too seriously:hence the failure with the French intellectual audience who praises to the skies any sequence of Woody Allen's films .I remember a teacher who could captivate his class with "Le Misanthrope" .He often made us laugh .I remembered him when I was watching"Molière" ,particularly the so-called "scene des Petits Marquis " updated by Celimène/Dorimène .Thank you,Mr Tirard.

NB :should not be mistaken for Ariane Mnouchkine's eponymous work (1978)

Every so often the inevitable happens and I'm faced with a film that I want to see with a leading actor I can't stand. So it is here; I accept that Romain Duris has his admirers and good luck to him but to me he's just another ugly, smirking, journeyman actor like Gaspard Ulliel and Benoit Magimal. To make matters worse - from my point of view - they even added Ludvine Sagnier to the mix; I've always contended that Ludo can't act with her clothes on and Boy, does she prove me right here though on the plus side she only has about fifteen minutes of screen time in two hours. That leaves Fabrice Luchini and Laura Morante to carve up the acting honours equally with Edward Baer finishing a notable third. If you know and admire Moliere - and if you know him it's hard NOT to admire him - then you can wallow in the references plus lines from his works that punctuate the plot, such as it is - M. Jourdain (Fabrice Luchini),for example, was the bourgeois gentilhomme who was delighted to discover that he'd been speaking prose all his life whilst Moliere becomes a member of Jordain's household under the pseudonym Tartuffe and so on. There's a nod to Preston Sturges and Sullivan's Travels inasmuch as Moliere begins by stating to his troupe that he has had it up to here with comedy and wants to write a tragedy and coming to realize at the end of the film that laughter is, after all, the best medicine. The photography is excellent and if the direction is slow at times and always unimaginative anyone who has ever laughed at a Moliere comedy will almost certainly enjoy it despite Duris' non-performance.