La Regle de Jeu

The first time I started watching this film, I gave up halfway through. It was over a year ago now, so I’m not sure whether it was because I was bored, or whether I was just not in the mood for a film about rich French people having affairs. I’m generally not in that mood. I made myself watch it last night though, and I did find it got more interesting after the part where I had previously stopped.

The affairs become steadily more ridiculous as the film goes on - by the end it appears that everyone is in love with everyone else - Christine plans to run away with at least three men who aren’t her husband. The chase scene towards the end also highlights the ridiculousness of the society they live in, when many of the guests think it’s part of the entertainment rather than a genuine conflict. From the start of that scene it was obvious that someone would end up being hurt eventually, and the way it happens does underscore the convoluted nature of the infidelity that is going on.

I suppose I enjoyed this film more than I expected I was going to after watching the first half. It is well made, and entertaining. The hunting scene in the middle of the film was a difficult watch for me, even if it does serve an important purpose in foreshadowing terms. I won’t be in a hurry to watch it again, but I’m glad I did once.