Classic French Films: La Règle du jeu

Now the nights are cool, is there any better activity than settling in with a French film (and, *peut-être, *un verre de vin)? We think not – and we have a classic recommendation well worth hunting down. Directed by cinema icon Jean Renoir (son of the Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste), the 1939 film "La Règle du jeu" (The Rules of the Game) is a cornerstone of French cinema that once courted significant controversy. 

Starring Marcel Dalio, Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost, and Renoir *lui-même, this satirical masterpiece delves into the complex social dynamics of the French upper class just before World War II, as the rich meet up at a French chateau with their help in tow. 

According to a BFI synopsis, "It's an upstairs-downstairs world where servants and masters become enmeshed in a tangle of desire, a jumble of motivations in which, in the film’s famous phrase, 'Everyone has their reasons'. At the film’s centre is the amiable Octave (played by Renoir), whose best intentions lead to tragedy."

You can watch *la bande-annonce, with English subtitles, here :

Upon its release, "La Règle du jeu" faced significant backlash for skewering the French aristocracy and bourgeoisie, leading to its ban by the French government in October 1939. The ban and censorship lasted until the mid-1950s (a heavily edited, unpopular version was released during the ban) when the film started to gain recognition as a cinematic tour de force. 

Today, "La Règle du jeu" tops every list of best French films, hailed for its intricate narrative, technical innovation and camera work, and timeless critique of human behaviour. 

*Le film is unfortunately unavailable for streaming in Australia. However, more advanced students might like to watch it with French subtitles on YouTube. Or, you can purchase a DVD with English subtitles on eBay. 

*perhaps | *a glass of wine | *himself | *the preview | *the film