La Comedie-Francaise Ou L'Amour Joue

Frederick Wiseman continues his unexpected but fascinating meditation on high-art culture with LA COMEDIE-FRANCAISE OU L'AMOUR JOUE (THE GAMES OF LOVE), the documentarian's 29th film, and his first made about a non-American subject.

Over the winter months of December 1994 and January 1995, Wiseman peeks into the preparations of La Comedie-Francaise, the 300-year-old theatrical company of France. First, the actors are seen rehearsing a scene on stage from Marivaux's "La Double Inconstance" ("The Inconstant Lovers"). Off-stage, the costume cutters go to work while one of the company directors guides a young actress through a difficult scene from the same play. Mor...