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Le Film

Molière is a 2007 film by French director Laurent Tirard  and starring Romain Duris as Molière.  It was released in Europe in January 2007 and in the United States in July 2007.

The film begins in 1658, when the French actor and playwright returns to Paris with his theatrical troupe to perform in the theater the king 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, a wealthy commoner with social pretensions, who agrees to pay the young actor’s debts if Molière teaches him to act.

The story is mostly fictional and many scenes follow actual scenes and text in Molière’s plays including Tartuffe, Le Misanthrope, and The Imaginary Invalid.

Lexique du cinéma

la réalisation de films – producing the film

métier de réalisateur – the job of producer

Décor – the scene / setting

Effets spéciaux – special effects

Flash-back

Flash-forward

Le premier rôle – la vedette – star

Les seconds rôles – secondary characters

Le scénario – the written version of the play

Les Personnages : écrivez 3 phrases pour chaque personnage dans le film.

(1)  Dire: qui sont ses parents ? “Il est le père de Célimène.”

(2)  Dire: qu’est-ce qu’il ou elle porte (porter = to wear)? e.g. “Il porte une veste.”

(3)  Décrire sa personnalité avec un adjectif. e.g.  “Il est insupportable.”

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin:

M. Jourdain:

Elmire Jourdain:

Dorante:

Célimène:

Henriette Jourdain:

Valère:

Thomas:

Madeleine Béjart:

Catherine de Brie:

Marquise du Parc: