NR | 1h 50m | Satire, Comedy, Drama | 1950
A Hint at Things to Come
The film’s opening scenes set up everything. André Jurieux (Roland Toutain), a dashing young pilot and national hero, has just completed a historic transatlantic flight. As he lands his plane, massive crowds of awaiting French citizens overwhelm the police detail and rush the airfield to greet him. The press also eagerly flocks to him, hoping for his first statements.Instead of enjoying his grand accomplishment, André’s mood is darkened by the absence of a certain woman. He is infaturated with Christine de la Chesniest (Nora Gregor), who is married to Marquis Robert de la Chesniest (Marcel Dalio). This underscores his sense of entitlement and the broader theme of blindness to realities that pervades the film.
![Robert (Marcel Dalio) and Christine de la Chesniest (Nora Gregor), in “The Rules of the Game.” (Nouvelle Édition Française)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2F04%2Fid5717934-2-1200x906.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
André’s obsession with Christine is so intense that it drives him to a dramatic suicide attempt, crashing his car into a tree. His friend Octave (played by the film’s director, Jean Renoir) reluctantly agrees to help André’s pursuit of Christine, as he is Christine’s childhood friend. Octave’s offhand promise leads him to arrange a weekend hunting party, inviting André, at the marquis’s opulent estate, known as La Colinière.
Deeper Dynamics at Play
The rest of the film is set at the estate. Here, Renoir skillfully weaves this intricate web of relationships with such finesse that he invites viewers into a nuanced, bittersweet experience of societal rules. This is colored by the film’s underlying sadness and irony, revealing the characters and their interactions as a tragic charade of sorts.The so-called rules dictating their behavior are exposed as arbitrary and deceptive, masking true immorality. These rules mirror our own contemporary societal dynamics. The film emphasizes the confusion and inner turmoil they generate, ultimately unraveling the essence of human relationships.
The film delves into social class by illustrating how societal rules vary across the strata. For the upper class, norms are flexible and often bent to suit convenience. Characters like Robert and Geneviève enjoy upper-crust status; they engage in illicit affairs with little consequence. To them, infidelities are viewed as minor infractions in the larger game of society.
For the lower classes, societal rules impose strict and inflexible behavioral boundaries. Schumacher is aware that his employer Robert is intent on eliminating rabbits that plague the estate.
![Schumacher (Gaston Modot) and his wife Lisette (Paulette Dubost), in “The Rules of the Game.” (Nouvelle Édition Française)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2F04%2Fid5717932-3-1200x906.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Schumacher’s adherence to the rules means he cannot allow Marceau (Julien Carette) to poach rabbits, despite knowing that Robert benefits from the poaching. As Marceau is of the same class as Schumacher, he sees Marceau’s violations as a serious offense, reflecting the rigid enforcement of rules within their shared social sphere.
Contemporary Relevance
Today, “The Rules of the Game” may appear as a lighthearted comedy about romantic entanglements among the upper class and their servants. However, Renoir uses this seemingly simple setup to deliver a scathing critique of class, entitlement, and self-absorption, parallels that remain relevant today, especially in the age of social media.![Robert de la Chesniest (Marcel Dalio, L) listens to a proposition by friend Octave (Jean Renoir), in “The Rules of the Game.” (Nouvelle Édition Française)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2F04%2Fid5717931-4.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
In 1939, as Europe teetered on the brink of war, the wealthy elite stayed insulated by their privilege, indifferent to growing social and political unrest. Renoir was acutely aware of this disconnect. He crafted his masterpiece as a veiled, but pointed critique of French society.
The film’s commentary on class and indifference resonates today and, hopefully, can inspire viewers to strive for greater understanding and empathy.