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Beginning in Paris the 22-year-old Jean Baptiste Poquelin, also known as Moliere, is not yet the writer that history recognises as the father and true master of comic satire. Far from it. He is, in fact, a failed actor. Director Laurent Tirard roots the story in an intriguing fact about Moliere's life - a spell in prison for failure to repay debts. History loses track when he's bialed out by 'anonymous', but Tirard imagines his saviour as wealthy trader Monsieur Jourdain. Jordain puts him up at the mansion and demands acting lessons, for he plans to woo a pretty, sharp-tongued Marquise by performing a self-composed play. Of course, the play is rotten and what's worse, Jourdain is married. In an echo of Moliere's "Tartuffe", the hapless thespian poses as a holy man, providing the cue for a lot of cunning misdirection and embarrassing mix-ups.

Director:

Laurent Tirard [2],

Starring:

Ludivine Sagnier [4], Fabrice Luchini [3], Romain Duris [7], Laura Morante [8], Fanny Valette [2], Edouard Baer [4],

Screen Formats:

Widescreen 2.35:1

Subtitles:

English

Language and Sound:

French 5.1 Dolby Digital

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