Molière
Tags: tragedy

Plot synopsis:
The film begins in 1658, when the French actor and playwright returns to Paris with his theatrical troupe to perform in the theatre the king's brother has given him. Most of the film is in the form of a flashback to 1645. Following an unsuccessful run as a tragic actor, Molière is released from debtor's prison by Monsieur Jourdain (Fabrice Luchini), a wealthy commoner with social pretensions, who agrees to pay the young actor's debts if Molière teaches him to act.
Jourdain, a married man with two daughters, hopes to use this talent to ingratiate himself with Célimène (Ludivine Sagnier), a recently widowed aristocrat with whom he has become obsessed. He hopes to perform a short play he has written for the occasion. Molière, however, has been presented to the family and staff of Monsieur Jourdain as Tartuffe, a priest who is to serve as tutor for the Jourdains' younger daughter. As the story progresses Molière proceeds to fall in love with Jourdain's neglected wife, Elmire (Laura Morante). Sub-plots involve the love life of the Jourdains' older daughter, and the intrigues of the penniless and cynical aristocrat Dorante (Édouard Baer) at the expense of the gullible Jourdain.
The story is mostly fictional and many scenes follow actual scenes and text in Molière's plays including Tartuffe, Le Misanthrope, The Imaginary Invalid, and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, whose principal character is also named Jourdain. It is implied that these "actual" events in his life inspired the plays of his maturity.

Review: I saw half of this film over 20 years ago, and only once -- and still many scenes are indelibly imprinted in my mind.
Moliere's mother picking lice out of his hair...the cavalry attacking student Mardi Gras revellers...starving beggars eating a horse raw...thick stage makeup flaking off a sweating actor...and all sorts of other real and surreal details of 17th century life.That this compelling and unique film should have disappeared for a quarter century when so much utter CRAP has appeared on tape and DVD is appalling.
I hope rumors of its release on DVD are true.
And make it available in the USA, please!.
Takes you into the world of Moliere's theater..
I saw this film over 20 years ago in a small art cinema, and would pay almost any price to have it on DVD.
After 4 hours, it left me wanting to see more.
The story, direction, photography and soundtrack are all outstanding, and (as other reviewers have remarked) many of the images are unforgettable.
As a French theater director, Mnouchkine has an unsurpassed insight into both Moliere and the life of the theater.
She also gives us a gripping (and historically accurate) portrayal of the precarious position of actors in Moliere's France, especially when they dared to satirize powerful people or institutions.
The only other film remotely comparable is Carne's Children of Paradise, which (unlike Mnouchkine's Moliere) subordinates its portrayal of the theater world to the romantic plot.
Mikhail Bulgakov, by the way, wrote a wonderful play about Moliere which is similar in tone to Mnouchkine's film..
One of the most influential movies I have seen..
I saw this wonderful movie around 10 times when I was just in the twenties.
No doubt, this film has influenced me for the rest of my life.
The sound in the voice of Moliere when he tells the child (whom he marries later): "Manche Douce", when he steals a chair from his father the tapestrymaster Poquelin, or when he learns to behave like a very old man on stage and of course the scene of his dying on the stairs forever running.
Molière is one of the greatest French writers of all time, so it was almost inevitable that the cinema takes an interest in the man by devoting him a movie.
It's Ariane Mouchkine who made this biography, she's a woman of the theatre and the manager of the theatre company: "the Theatre of the Sun".
However, her movie isn't a filmed stage production because she introduces a lot of life and movements in her making.
In another hand, the performance of the actors isn't theatrical, except, of course, when they're on stage.
The movie, you can guess it, was expensive but it was worthwhile!
An important budget enabled a meticulous reconstruction of the seventeenth century: the costumes and sceneries are magnificient and the muddy streets of the towns are very realistic.
The movie mainly focuses on the most important events of Molière's life: his childhood, his student years, his beginnings in the theatre and his success in the court of Louis XIV in spite of "Tartuffe"'s scandal .
Some of these events will later inspire him for his plays.
For example, at the beginning of the movie, Molière's mother dies of a fatal disease and the doctors are powerless to heal her.
More serious: they don't hesitate in feasting and eating in Molière's house.
He'll ridiculise them later in some of his plays.
Besides, it's not only Molière's character who interests Mouchkine but  all an era: the seventeenth century with all its miseries, its grandeurs and its contradictions.
Nevertheless, the end of the movie is a bit disappointing.
Molière's life after 1666 and until 1673, date of his death, isn't clearly made.
It's during this era that he knew his hour of glory by writing unforgettable plays despite his disease ( he suffered from tuberculosis) .
It would have been interesting to see him writing and performing these plays on stage.
At last, Philippe Caubère is an excellent Molière and in the end, in spite of its length, "Molière" is simply a beautiful movie..
Best film seen so far.
It is amazing how many other people share the same feeling towards this film!!!
I felt like a solitaire, since my only connection with this film was my memory.
In effect, it was exhibited in my city, Montevideo, Uruguay (South America) as part of a France Film Festival back in 1979.
I enjoyed every minute of the four hours the film lasts, so I went twice.
I was only 18 y.o. at that time.
Since that, I have been trying to find any reference to the film without success.
The cinemateca where it was shown did not keep a copy, the same with the France Embassy that brought the film.
And thanks to IMDb found that I am not alone, that many people has memories of this most exquisite film ever.
I just followed the advice of a colleague here and bought the film from the amazon.fr site.
I hope it arrives in Uruguay, that is possible to play on my multi-zone DVD player, and that has some sub-titles either on Spanish or English, because even my family came from France, I speak it very badly..
Make this film available on DVD, or at least on VHS!.
It is a disgrace that such a fine film is not yet available to purchase, either on DVD or VHS.
It is bad enough that there is so much crap for sale as DVDs, but when a superb film comes along, why are film goers to be denied the ability to see it and to purchase a copy?
Make this film available.
Have only seen this film for sale once......
on eBay, of course.
It was in French, and for sale in Canada.
I saw this film twice on PBS in the very early 80s and still cannot get it out of my mind.
The production is great, and the story absolutely fascinating, and tells the story of Moliere's life from beginning to end.
It was shown with subtitles that were done very well in a way that did not distract visually.
The last time I contacted PBS, they said they did not have access to it anymore and didn't know when they would.
It is hard to believe that this beautiful movie seems to be in obscurity, but I will continue to hunt for it..
I LOVE THIS FILM!!!.
I LOVE THIS FILM!!!.
I love this movie and have been searching for it without much success.
I've Google-ed till the cows came home.
I've even gone to the French Ebay!
I REALLY want a copy for my very own.
The wait is over - now on DVD!.
I have just seen the DVD of Moliere - this is my first time seeing this film.
What a wonderful experience!I would totally agree with all of the IMDb reviewers - this is an amazing production with some incredible images.
Also a very painstaking reconstruction of 17th century France.
The humanity of a full life, an engaging storyline, excellent sets and cinematography - its all there.We recently had the pleasure of Ariane Mnouchkine's Theatre Du Soliel staging a production of "Le Dernier Caravanserail" here in Melbourne.
(7 hours long).
That was truly amazing as well.
They were selling copies of the Moliere DVD at this show so I bought a copy there.
It contains the 244 minute theatrical release of the film (not the 300 minute TV version) in French with English, Italian, German and Spanish subtitles.
The digital transfer quality is very good, the soundtrack is Dolby Digital mono and wide screen 16 x 9 format.
Region 2 only.There is also a 46 min interview with Ariane (done very recently) in which she talks extensively about the struggle in making the film, the reaction at Cannes, how she structured the story and the ideas behind the death scene amongst others.
Great stuff!I would recommend that any fans of this film make every effort to get this DVD (probably French Amazon or Ebay).
For others it is a shining light in French cinema history and well worth tracking down..
I saw this film on a trip to San Francisco in 1980 and images in the film remain with me to this day.
As another comment remarked, Moliere's death scene is unforgettable.
I have been searching for this film for years and would love to see it again (as well as share it)..
* Molière now available on DVD *.
Yesterday, I wrote a little message regarding the fantastic movie 'Molière' from 1978 that so many people hope some day will be available to them on either VHS or DVD.
I can now with pleasure inform you that this movie is NOW available on DVD...!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn't that great..?!?!?
All you have to do is to go to amazon.fr and click on 'DVD' and in the text box you write: Molière.
The film comes as 2 DVDs and the price is about 33 euro (definitely worth the price..!!!!).
I hope you will purchase a copy of this marvelous movie if you like it as much as I do...!!!!
By the way, it's crazy that you have to submit at least 10 lines although you just have a small message...!!!
From another lifelong Moliere fan.
I had the amazing good fortune to study for a year in Paris in 1972-73 and took the most amazing theater course taught by the L'Express theater critic, M.
This amazing teacher often took us to theater productions in Paris, and one of those events was Ariane Mnouchkine's extraordinary theatrical production 1789.
I was equally moved and thrilled when I was able to see the movie Moliere during its initial Paris release in 1978, then again in San Francisco, out at the old Surf theater.
An unforgettable cinematic experience.
And I loved it all the more because that theater teacher of mine, M.
Simon, has a small part in the movie.
Being able to see him again, hear his voice, brought back magical moments of evenings out at the theater in Paris as a young man.
Like I said, I have had some amazing good fortune in my life.
(I want to thank everyone who has posted such detailed information about this film's availability on DVD; I will own it one day soon.).
A great film waiting to be released once again!.
I saw "Moliere" twice in small theaters in San Francisco when it was first released.
During the course of this lengthy film, I felt transported to another time, another place.
It is by far one of the best I've ever seen.
The story was authentic as well as the context and historical setting.
The acting was superb as was the soundtrack.
I have been frustrated for years that this film has not been released on VHS or DVD.
I saw the movie one other time on PBS with English dubbed in.
In my opinion, the dubbing ruined the film.
Without the actors true voices, the film was not the same.
I hereby PLEAD with the powers that be to release this film on DVD with subtitles in it's original full length.
This would be a huge addition to the world of film available to the public.
It would be tragic for this monumental film to not be made available to the public once again.
The six or seven other people I know who have seen "Moliere" would very likely agree with these thoughts.
I would encourage any of you who have seen the film and agree with these thoughts, to express your feelings on this site.
Why would you want to watch a four hour film about a long-dead playwright with a cast of thousands???Because it's brilliant.
"Moliere" delivers in every way.
The acting is powerful and intense, but the sets and cinematography take the cake.Do not miss this fantastic film..
One of the best back-stage biographies ever filmed!.
The brilliance of the film, Moliere, is due to Ariane Mnouchkine's direction and creative genius.
She is one of the best stage directors working in the world today.
Her highly visual, physical and multi-cultural adaptations of the classics with her own Theatre du Soleil in Paris regularly set new heights in theatrical achievement.This film tells the life story of France's greatest dramatist with all the intimacy and crucial understanding that a fellow theatre-person can bring.
The scene of Moliere's death while he was performing on stage - followed by a slow-motion, but intensely frantic race on a flight of stairs by his fellow performers carrying his dying body - will be one of the few images that stay with me for the rest of my life.I saw this film on public television in the late '70s and have spent the last 20 years trying to find a copy to purchase..
If I only watched one film over and over in my whole life, I would choose it to be this film.
Every time I see it I discover something new and I glory in the great Ariane Mnouchkine's world of Moliere..
I completely agree with the comments below.
I have the same story - I saw this film on my local PBS station in the San Francisco area in the 1970s, I believe, and it absolutely bewitched me.
Was unlike any other film I'd seen, whether on TV or the big screen.
I'm not surprised to see here on IMDb that it won an award in France for its cinematography.
The visuals were AMAZING, like a giant, colorful dream.
The two scenes I remember after all these years are 1) when some people are traveling across the French countryside and are shown from a distance - I remember at that moment thinking, oh my GOD, this film is incredible!!
and 2) the final scene, with Moliere being chased or chasing someone (?) down some circular stairs ...
I think they slowed the film at that point and you just saw his haunting face, and it seems as if he was injured, maybe mortally, at that point, which spelled the end for him.
I REALLY, really want to see this film again, but hadn't been able to find it so far.
Based on these comments I think I will try blockbuster.com again.
Perhaps it would be fun to compare the '78 film with the 2007 version!.
I have no idea of why the region 1 DVD comes without English subtitles.
I'm sorry, but you simply miss out on so many goodies by not having a region free DVD player.
Since my husband is Norwegian, and I lived for several years in Europe, then later moved to the US, we found it natural to have the equipment to allow for us to enjoy our joint DVD collection.
(We also invested in a US VCR that can play Euro tapes).Neither me or my husband understand French.
But this film made such a tremendous impact on him more than 20 years ago.
So I ordered the film from Amazon UK - in region 2 format.
And it has allowed for us to enjoy this truly breathtaking feat!
And the extras (an interview with the director) was also subtitled.Another marvel that can't be found over here is Michel Ocelot's fantastic silhouette animation Princes et Princesses, also subtitled in English.
Go to http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0229664/ And several more.
Unfortunately many great movies w/ English subtitles in region 2 can't be purchased through amazon UK, France or Germany.
You will have to trace up other DVD sale sources to find some of these gems.Alas..
Moliere, a writer for all seasons.
Seeing this masterpiece for the first time since 1980 I was amazed how many scenes I remembered from first time on.
The acting is stunning, the spoken french is beautiful and subtitles are excellent,the imagery is beautiful, the creative process and growth and courage of the artist has never been shown better on screen.
To all you that read this buy it (I got it through french amazon)and give it to friends and enemies ,lovers, family members etc.
This is a film that will be talked about and seen a hundred years from now.
To think that such brave men 350 years ago dared to speak up for what they believed in and expressing it through art should be a lesson to us all, especially todays makers of trash and time-wasting "entertainment.
Moliere will truly lift your spirit.
Ariane Mnouchkine's made for TV film Moliere (1978) came out on DVD in 2004.
Ariane Mnouchkine's made for TV film Moliere (1978) came out on DVD in 2004.
Ariane Mnouchkine's made for TV film Moliere (1978) came out on DVD in 2004.
It is available on amazon.fr for around 38.00 U.S. dollars (including shipping).
It is available on amazon.fr for around 38.00 U.S. dollars (including shipping).
The DVD contain two discs and the made for TV film is in French and has an English subtitles option.
The DVD contain two discs and the made for TV film is in French and has an English subtitles option.
The image transfer is excellent.
The image transfer is excellent.
There is a small booklet (in French only) about the made for TV film as well as a 46 minute interview with Ariane Mnouchkine..
There is a small booklet (in French only) about the made for TV film as well as a 46 minute interview with Ariane Mnouchkine..
On DVD?.
Finally, after all these years - I've read on a french message board  that it will be released on DVD in January next year.
The source was Ariane M.
I've looked over and over again for  this film ever since I saw it - I was only 12 years old - and I will  never forget it.
Esp. Philippe Caubere, he was very good.
The rest of  the cast, also of course - but I will never forget the Death-scene,  when they are running to stand still, with the bleeding JB Moliere in  their arms.