User Reviews

I saw half of this film over 20 years ago, and only once -- and still many scenes are indelibly imprinted in my mind. Moliere's mother picking lice out of his hair...the cavalry attacking student Mardi Gras revellers...starving beggars eating a horse raw...thick stage makeup flaking off a sweating actor...and all sorts of other real and surreal details of 17th century life.

That this compelling and unique film should have disappeared for a quarter century when so much utter CRAP has appeared on tape and DVD is appalling. I hope rumors of its release on DVD are true. And make it available in the USA, please!

I have just seen the DVD of Moliere - this is my first time seeing this film. What a wonderful experience!

I would totally agree with all of the IMDb reviewers - this is an amazing production with some incredible images. Also a very painstaking reconstruction of 17th century France. The humanity of a full life, an engaging storyline, excellent sets and cinematography - its all there.

We recently had the pleasure of Ariane Mnouchkine's Theatre Du Soliel staging a production of "Le Dernier Caravanserail" here in Melbourne. (7 hours long). That was truly amazing as well. They were selling copies of the Moliere DVD at this show so I bought a copy there. It contains the 244 minute theatrical release of the film (not the 300 minute TV version) in French with English, Italian, German and Spanish subtitles. The digital transfer quality is very good, the soundtrack is Dolby Digital mono and wide screen 16 x 9 format. Region 2 only.

There is also a 46 min interview with Ariane (done very recently) in which she talks extensively about the struggle in making the film, the reaction at Cannes, how she structured the story and the ideas behind the death scene amongst others. Great stuff!

I would recommend that any fans of this film make every effort to get this DVD (probably French Amazon or Ebay). For others it is a shining light in French cinema history and well worth tracking down.

I saw this film on a trip to San Francisco in 1980 and images in the film remain with me to this day. As another comment remarked, Moliere's death scene is unforgettable. I have been searching for this film for years and would love to see it again (as well as share it).

I saw this film over 20 years ago in a small art cinema, and would pay almost any price to have it on DVD. After 4 hours, it left me wanting to see more. The story, direction, photography and soundtrack are all outstanding, and (as other reviewers have remarked) many of the images are unforgettable. As a French theater director, Mnouchkine has an unsurpassed insight into both Moliere and the life of the theater. She also gives us a gripping (and historically accurate) portrayal of the precarious position of actors in Moliere's France, especially when they dared to satirize powerful people or institutions. The only other film remotely comparable is Carne's Children of Paradise, which (unlike Mnouchkine's Moliere) subordinates its portrayal of the theater world to the romantic plot. Mikhail Bulgakov, by the way, wrote a wonderful play about Moliere which is similar in tone to Mnouchkine's film.

I saw this wonderful movie around 10 times when I was just in the twenties. No doubt, this film has influenced me for the rest of my life. The sound in the voice of Moliere when he tells the child (whom he marries later): "Manche Douce", when he steals a chair from his father the tapestrymaster Poquelin, or when he learns to behave like a very old man on stage and of course the scene of his dying on the stairs forever running. Oh how I would love to be in this film just once more

Molière is one of the greatest French writers of all time, so it was almost inevitable that the cinema takes an interest in the man by devoting him a movie. It's Ariane Mouchkine who made this biography, she's a woman of the theatre and the manager of the theatre company: "the Theatre of the Sun". However, her movie isn't a filmed stage production because she introduces a lot of life and movements in her making. Moreover, there isn't one sole scenerie but a thousand various sceneries! In another hand, the performance of the actors isn't theatrical, except, of course, when they're on stage. The movie, you can guess it, was expensive but it was worthwhile! An important budget enabled a meticulous reconstruction of the seventeenth century: the costumes and sceneries are magnificient and the muddy streets of the towns are very realistic. The movie mainly focuses on the most important events of Molière's life: his childhood, his student years, his beginnings in the theatre and his success in the court of Louis XIV in spite of "Tartuffe"'s scandal . Some of these events will later inspire him for his plays. For example, at the beginning of the movie, Molière's mother dies of a fatal disease and the doctors are powerless to heal her. More serious: they don't hesitate in feasting and eating in Molière's house. This last one understood that doctors are only profiteer charlatans and that medicine is far from being efficient. He'll ridiculise them later in some of his plays. Besides, it's not only Molière's character who interests Mouchkine but all an era: the seventeenth century with all its miseries, its grandeurs and its contradictions. Nevertheless, the end of the movie is a bit disappointing. Molière's life after 1666 and until 1673, date of his death, isn't clearly made. It's during this era that he knew his hour of glory by writing unforgettable plays despite his disease ( he suffered from tuberculosis) . It would have been interesting to see him writing and performing these plays on stage. At last, Philippe Caubère is an excellent Molière and in the end, in spite of its length, "Molière" is simply a beautiful movie.

It is amazing how many other people share the same feeling towards this film!!! I felt like a solitaire, since my only connection with this film was my memory. In effect, it was exhibited in my city, Montevideo, Uruguay (South America) as part of a France Film Festival back in 1979. I enjoyed every minute of the four hours the film lasts, so I went twice. I was only 18 y.o. at that time. Since that, I have been trying to find any reference to the film without success. The cinemateca where it was shown did not keep a copy, the same with the France Embassy that brought the film. Nothing on Yahoo. It was not until now that I used Google that I found a clue. And thanks to IMDb found that I am not alone, that many people has memories of this most exquisite film ever. I just followed the advice of a colleague here and bought the film from the amazon.fr site. I hope it arrives in Uruguay, that is possible to play on my multi-zone DVD player, and that has some sub-titles either on Spanish or English, because even my family came from France, I speak it very badly.

I love this movie and have been searching for it without much success. I've been to Theatre Du Soleil's website. I've Google-ed till the cows came home. I've even gone to the French Ebay! With the exception of a few university libraries that will not sell, I found no commercial outlets. I REALLY want a copy for my very own. Does anybody have one? And/or info?

Ariane Mnouchkine's made for TV film Moliere (1978) came out on DVD in 2004. It is available on amazon.fr for around 38.00 U.S. dollars (including shipping). The DVD contain two discs and the made for TV film is in French and has an English subtitles option. The image transfer is excellent. There is a small booklet (in French only) about the made for TV film as well as a 46 minute interview with Ariane Mnouchkine. Ariane Mnouchkine's made for TV film Moliere (1978) came out on DVD in 2004. It is available on amazon.fr for around 38.00 U.S. dollars (including shipping). The DVD contain two discs and the made for TV film is in French and has an English subtitles option. The image transfer is excellent. There is a small booklet (in French only) about the made for TV film as well as a 46 minute interview with Ariane Mnouchkine.

on eBay, of course. It was in French, and for sale in Canada. I saw this film twice on PBS in the very early 80s and still cannot get it out of my mind. The production is great, and the story absolutely fascinating, and tells the story of Moliere's life from beginning to end. It was shown with subtitles that were done very well in a way that did not distract visually. If it is ever shown again, do not miss it! The last time I contacted PBS, they said they did not have access to it anymore and didn't know when they would. It is hard to believe that this beautiful movie seems to be in obscurity, but I will continue to hunt for it.

Yesterday, I wrote a little message regarding the fantastic movie 'Molière' from 1978 that so many people hope some day will be available to them on either VHS or DVD. I can now with pleasure inform you that this movie is NOW available on DVD...!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that great..?!?!? All you have to do is to go to amazon.fr and click on 'DVD' and in the text box you write: Molière. The film comes as 2 DVDs and the price is about 33 euro (definitely worth the price..!!!!). Good luck to everybody..!!!! I hope you will purchase a copy of this marvelous movie if you like it as much as I do...!!!! By the way, it's crazy that you have to submit at least 10 lines although you just have a small message...!!! That should be altered immediately...!!!! Peter Alexandersen, Denmark

The brilliance of the film, Moliere, is due to Ariane Mnouchkine's direction and creative genius. She is one of the best stage directors working in the world today. Her highly visual, physical and multi-cultural adaptations of the classics with her own Theatre du Soleil in Paris regularly set new heights in theatrical achievement.

This film tells the life story of France's greatest dramatist with all the intimacy and crucial understanding that a fellow theatre-person can bring. The scene of Moliere's death while he was performing on stage - followed by a slow-motion, but intensely frantic race on a flight of stairs by his fellow performers carrying his dying body - will be one of the few images that stay with me for the rest of my life.

I saw this film on public television in the late '70s and have spent the last 20 years trying to find a copy to purchase.

I had the amazing good fortune to study for a year in Paris in 1972-73 and took the most amazing theater course taught by the L'Express theater critic, M. Alfred Simon. This amazing teacher often took us to theater productions in Paris, and one of those events was Ariane Mnouchkine's extraordinary theatrical production 1789. I was equally moved and thrilled when I was able to see the movie Moliere during its initial Paris release in 1978, then again in San Francisco, out at the old Surf theater. An unforgettable cinematic experience. And I loved it all the more because that theater teacher of mine, M. Simon, has a small part in the movie. Being able to see him again, hear his voice, brought back magical moments of evenings out at the theater in Paris as a young man. Like I said, I have had some amazing good fortune in my life. (I want to thank everyone who has posted such detailed information about this film's availability on DVD; I will own it one day soon.)

I saw "Moliere" twice in small theaters in San Francisco when it was first released. I'll never forget those experiences. During the course of this lengthy film, I felt transported to another time, another place. It is by far one of the best I've ever seen. The story was authentic as well as the context and historical setting. The acting was superb as was the soundtrack. I have been frustrated for years that this film has not been released on VHS or DVD. I saw the movie one other time on PBS with English dubbed in. In my opinion, the dubbing ruined the film. Without the actors true voices, the film was not the same. I hereby PLEAD with the powers that be to release this film on DVD with subtitles in it's original full length. This would be a huge addition to the world of film available to the public.

It would be tragic for this monumental film to not be made available to the public once again. The six or seven other people I know who have seen "Moliere" would very likely agree with these thoughts. I would encourage any of you who have seen the film and agree with these thoughts, to express your feelings on this site. Thank you.

It is a disgrace that such a fine film is not yet available to purchase, either on DVD or VHS. Would someone 'out there' do something about this deplorable situation. It is bad enough that there is so much crap for sale as DVDs, but when a superb film comes along, why are film goers to be denied the ability to see it and to purchase a copy? Make this film available. The work speaks for itself!

Seeing this masterpiece for the first time since 1980 I was amazed how many scenes I remembered from first time on. The acting is stunning, the spoken french is beautiful and subtitles are excellent,the imagery is beautiful, the creative process and growth and courage of the artist has never been shown better on screen. To all you that read this buy it (I got it through french amazon)and give it to friends and enemies ,lovers, family members etc. This is a film that will be talked about and seen a hundred years from now. It deserves recognition as a true masterpiece. To think that such brave men 350 years ago dared to speak up for what they believed in and expressing it through art should be a lesson to us all, especially todays makers of trash and time-wasting "entertainment. Moliere will truly lift your spirit

I have no idea of why the region 1 DVD comes without English subtitles. I'm sorry, but you simply miss out on so many goodies by not having a region free DVD player. Since my husband is Norwegian, and I lived for several years in Europe, then later moved to the US, we found it natural to have the equipment to allow for us to enjoy our joint DVD collection. (We also invested in a US VCR that can play Euro tapes).

Neither me or my husband understand French. But this film made such a tremendous impact on him more than 20 years ago. So I ordered the film from Amazon UK - in region 2 format. And it has allowed for us to enjoy this truly breathtaking feat! And the extras (an interview with the director) was also subtitled.

Another marvel that can't be found over here is Michel Ocelot's fantastic silhouette animation Princes et Princesses, also subtitled in English. Go to http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0229664/ And several more. Unfortunately many great movies w/ English subtitles in region 2 can't be purchased through amazon UK, France or Germany. You will have to trace up other DVD sale sources to find some of these gems.

Alas.

It is a bit shocking to see the depiction of life in 17th century France as portrayed by Ariane Mnouchkine and her cinematographer Bernard Zitermann. The story is a bit meandering, but once one knows to expect that this is a long-haul ( 4 hours), that it's an experience to be savored, rather than swallowed, the images, symbolism, irony can be richly rewarding.

The landing page has a nifty graphic preview of the film, and you can find the purchase info there: belairclassiques dot com

The bluray quality is excellent, at times brilliant depending on the original film. The 40 page booklet is useful and interesting, too.

Highly recommended.

If I only watched one film over and over in my whole life, I would choose it to be this film. Every time I see it I discover something new and I glory in the great Ariane Mnouchkine's world of Moliere.

I have the same story - I saw this film on my local PBS station in the San Francisco area in the 1970s, I believe, and it absolutely bewitched me. Was unlike any other film I'd seen, whether on TV or the big screen. I'm not surprised to see here on IMDb that it won an award in France for its cinematography. The visuals were AMAZING, like a giant, colorful dream. The two scenes I remember after all these years are 1) when some people are traveling across the French countryside and are shown from a distance - I remember at that moment thinking, oh my GOD, this film is incredible!! and 2) the final scene, with Moliere being chased or chasing someone (?) down some circular stairs ... I think they slowed the film at that point and you just saw his haunting face, and it seems as if he was injured, maybe mortally, at that point, which spelled the end for him. But he was still young. I REALLY, really want to see this film again, but hadn't been able to find it so far. Based on these comments I think I will try blockbuster.com again. Perhaps it would be fun to compare the '78 film with the 2007 version!

Why would you want to watch a four hour film about a long-dead playwright with a cast of thousands???

Because it's brilliant. "Moliere" delivers in every way. The acting is powerful and intense, but the sets and cinematography take the cake.

Do not miss this fantastic film.