Perhaps it's because I am an actor myself with a great love for Moliere, but this gem of a film delighted. The unique Fabrice Luchini is Serge Tanneur, a once renowned actor living in self- imposed retirement in an old inherited house on the Ile de Re'. The living, breathing Alceste of The Misanthrope, he rails against life, the plumbing in his crumbling house, and spends his time cycling along the sea front. Gaulthier Valence, a famous actor, "Dr. Morange" in a TV series in which he plays a brain surgeon who can operate during a hurricane while melting the hearts of French women everywhere, is producing Moliere's Misanthrope so he can play Alceste. he travels to see Tanneur to convince him to return to the stage to play a supporting role. But Tanneur has been working on the role of Alceste for 30 years and isn't about to play a lesser part. And he doesn't want to act anymore anyway. Instead, he wants to rehearse for four days with Valence to gauge whether or not he wants to come back. They flip a coin each day to see who will play who.The relationship between the two is the crux of the story. Mercurial, intense, frustrating, loving, cruel, all the ingredients of Moliere's great play with two very fine actors. I have rarely seen the inner life of actors so revealed. Maya Sansa plays an Italian woman of some mystery who adds a touch of romance. It all ends just the way it would. Exceptional film from Philippe Le Guay.
Review of Bicycling with Molière
