it was a crazy time in france , what with the french revolution right around the corner .
king louis xv would soon die , and his son would become king louis xvi .
such is the setting for beaumarchais : the scoundrel about the controversial playwright , spy and playboy pierre - augustin caron de beaumarchais .
beaumarchais was the author of the plays , " the barber of seville " and " the marriage of figaro .
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today people think of them as quaint and harmless operas , but , back in 1773 when the movie takes place , they were so scandalous that beaumarchais was thrown into prison more than once .
the movie beaumarchais : the scoundrel takes a light - hearted approach to its subject , resulting in an inviting motion picture .
one of france 's most expensive productions ever , the movie was a huge hit when it opened there last year .
now in theatrical release in the united states , it eschews the seriousness of most art house films with a romping good story .
the secret of the film 's success , other than the lavishness of sylvie de segonzac 's costumes , has to be the performance by fabrice luchini as beaumarchais .
with his glistening eyes and his infectious smile , he mesmerizes the camera and the audience .
his wry little lips seem always to hint at some unspoken deviousness he is planning .
in a land where court intrigue determines one 's destiny , constant scheming was a way of life for the aristocracy .
as our story starts , we learn that beaumarchais has bought himself a judgeship .
into his court comes a member of the nobility demanding an immediate sword fight .
beaumarchais , who has been having an affair with the man 's wife , makes him wait until the current case on the docket is decided .
that over with , the fight is on .
with luchini 's charisma , it is hard to root for anyone other than him .
audiences may remember him from the marvelous colonel chabert , in which he played the attorney .
although he does not have half of the good looks of his assistant gudin , played by manuel blanc , he dazzles the women and the viewers with his grace and style .
michael epp 's
warm and intimate cinematography provides a nice accompaniment to jean - marc kerdelhue 's lush but realistic looking sets .
jean - claude petit 's music , especially the hauntingly lovely flute solos , make for an enchanting time at the movies .
director jean - claude brisville , who wrote the script along with edouard molinaro , fleshed out a play by sacha guitry which , according to the press notes , was just a series of historic vignettes .
the disorganization of the play still comes through at some points in the movie , but the actors smooth it over with their good - hearted style .
typical of the scenes that come out of nowhere is the one in which a rotund benjamin franklin appears in a large pot of hot water , taking his bath .
one episode has beaumarchais working with a renegade spy who may or may not be a man .
another has beaumarchais using his personal fortune to aid the american revolution .
all of this may sound like a dull historical drama , but it is anything
but .
the story plays more like theater of the absurd than a movie based on historical facts .
the radiantly lovely sandrine kiberlain plays marie - therese , the real love of beaumarchais 's life .
but he is so likable that members of the audience may want to compete with her for him .
still , with his beguiling smile , one can never quite be sure if you should trust him .
the movie , on the other hand , can be trusted to deliver a high old time .
beaumarchais : the scoundrel runs 1 : 41 .
it is in french with english subtitles .
the film is not rated but would be an r for some nudity and sex , and should be fine for most teenagers .
can be trusted to deliver a high old time with their good - hearted style a huge hit an enchanting time at the movies a romping good story a nice accompaniment radiantly lovely he mesmerizes the camera and the audience