A scathing critique of corrupt French society cloaked in a comedy of manners, The Rules of the Game (La règle du jeu) follows a group of wealthy friends, spouses, and lovers — and their servants — as they spend a weekend at a country château. When the tensions among them lay bare some ugly truths, tragedy inevitably unfolds.
Newly restored in 4K in time for its 85th anniversary, legendary filmmaker Jean Renoir’s film has long been considered one of the greatest ever made, its restoration only amplifying what makes it such a crucial film, according to Hyperallergic. Famed film scholar Kristin Thompson discusses its intricate staging in this short clip, while the New York Times explains why the film has endured and Alexander Sesonske dives deeper into its history and complexities with his Criterion Collection essay. Catch The Rules of the Game this Saturday at IU Cinema!
“Part scathing critique of the bourgeoisie, part sex romp, part tragedy, The Rules of the Game dances on the edge of a volcano like its characters, skirting easy classification.” — David Harris, Spectrum Culture
The Rules of the Game/La règle du jeu will be playing at IU Cinema on May 18 at 4pm as part of the series Critics’ Pics: Selections from AFI and Sight & Sound.