Monday, 23 June 2014

Don't mention the (impending) war

The Rules of the Game (1939)

Directed by it's star Jean Renoir this film also features Nora Gregor, Marcel Dalio, Roland Toutain and Paulette Dubost. Various upper class French people and servants head to stay at a châteaux in the country will conducting various affairs.

This is a comedy of manners and while the emphasis is not entirely on the comedy element it does a good job of showing balanced characters in what becomes a farcical situation. What the film does best is never mention the impending war but hint at it with the seemingly barbaric hunting massacre scene. For fans of Gosford Park (2001) this is somewhat in a similar vein and well worth watching.


4/5

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