Comédie-Française is a French box office winner from the comedy ensemble of the same name.
Featuring key players from the comedy troupe, Comédie-Française, the film tells the disruptive three hour build up to the curtain rising on a fated production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Nina (Pauline Clement) is the director who is setting up the show. From the outset, there is chaos as she cannot get into the theatre due to a security issue.
The old adage of the show must go on is here for all to see. For the majority of the film, this is played for laughs in an almighty farce of words misspoken and pratfalls backstage.
That is the credit to the cast and script – when you have a troupe that are so in sync with each other, any script can be elevated due to the individuals knowing other performers abilities and idiosyncrasies. Much like the forthcoming Ghosts: The Possession of Button House feature film, featuring the Horrible Histories ensemble out at the end of the month.
As a film about theatre, this laughs at the performers and self-importance of them as they yearn for attention and clamour. There are tropes aplenty – the illicit affair taking place, the understudy having to step up, the usher who knows every line of the play – and yet they do not feel forced at all.
Nina in her panicking, starts having visions of Moliere as she tends to her baby son, who has been dropped on her by an unsupportive ex. Their interaction discussing dates and logic about childcare is very funny. This scene with Moliere is a very short scene, but it plays with the form of the film and features one of the best fourth wall breaks in recent memory.
Throughout the film, Clement (channelling the manic energy of Holly Hunter in Broadcast News) holds court, she is always the smartest person in the room but is wholesome and genuine as she keeps multiple plates spinning as show time approaches and the impending curtain call.
The finale which features the opening scene which comes crashing down around the steadfast ensemble who insist to proceed. As it appears like chaos, the visiting Culture Minister turns to her assistant and simply states ‘Magnificent’ in her quiet acclaim for the mayhem we know is occurring.
At just 75 minutes, this is a sprightly and light film and while that Quentin Dupieux run-time is not off putting it is necessary as so often with comedies, it is hard to maintain the tone and level (a criticism of many a Judd Apatow production); so credit to the co-directors (and former actors) Bertrand Usclat and Martin Darondeau for sticking to their guns/
Comédie-Française is out from 9th October via Tull Stories.
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