La fausse suivante

Marivaux (an 18th century playwright) had a reputation for writing 'light' comedies about love, the ambiguity that can exist between men and women, lovers of both sexes, servants and masters, and what can be fun (and semi-tragic) about it. In each of his plays, there is always something to learn, a moral which can often seem moralistic in our modern time. The language used is typical of the 18th century: every word is chosen very carefully and has often a double meaning (especially in this case). Benoît Jacquot has managed to stay faithful to Marivaux's spirit, while making a fine film that avoids all the dangers of 'filmed plays' (which can be excessively static). The scenes take place in a modern Parisian (but classical Italian-style) theater (no grandiose reconstitution like in 'Shakespeare in Love' or 'Dangerous Liaisons'), the costumes are typical of Marivaux's time, there is hardly any music (except for a few chords of Couperin's 'Charmes' between some important scenes) and the acting isn't too 'modern'. And yet, it is far from being boring: there's a perfect balance between the various genres, the actors are excellent, the intrigue becomes every minute more thrilling, and because of the proximity of the camera (something that you usually miss in a theater), you get to experience all the cruelty of the 'game' through the actors looks. The only problem might be for those who are not fluent in French. Dubbing this film wouldn't make any sense. I wonder if it has ever been subtitled, of it will ever be... Even so, there is almost no way the subtlety of the 18th century language can be translated (especially with the speed at which the actors sometimes speak). But this is nonetheless a challenge one should take up. Only because this film makes you feel like going more often to the theater, and also because it proves that filmed-plays do work!

A young heiress, Sandrine Kiberlain, dresses up as a knight to sound out the feelings of her betrothed, and, through deceptions and betrayals, seduces alternately Pierre Arditi and Isabelle Huppert. A cruel light-hearted gallantries. Filming with a rare sobriety and improvisation, Jacquot succeeds in seizing all the richness and modernity of Marivaux's play.

There are not many Marivaux (or for that matter, Moliére or Goldoni) comedies I have seen on film, and this is no accident. Whereas one goes to watch them to the theater, it is mostly in line with a theatrical tradition of long ago. Sch plays rarely work well in film. Not as if the themes were dated - hypocrites, hypochondriacs or, for that matter, gold-diggers are far from being extinct in our world - but because the theatrical traditions, the costumes and the style direct our attention away from the message. Even when watching Kenneth Branagh's film versions of Shakespeare comedies, I can only appreciate them as faithful renderings of Renaissance atmosphere, nothing more.

Therefore, it was quite a brave undertaking to film this 18th century piece, and to do so by apparently filming a theater performance. Apparently, for there is no audience (apart from the character of Harlequin, who sometimes appears from among the seats). Acting out a classic comedy with countesses and chevaliers, in 18th century costumes in an empty theater feels rather artificial. And this is just the point. After all, the play itself is about pretending - woman pretending to be a chevalier, gold-digger pretending to be faithful lover, nobleman pretending to be servant. The theater is an allegory for the whole theme of the play. It is no accident that, when Lélio challenges the chevalier to a duel, he leaves the stage through the back staircase - but changes his mind when he sees the chevalier following. He is not ready to give up his pretensions. The lack of set and the slightly distant way of acting (especially of the two superb actresses) turns a classic comedy into a modern, experimental performance, and this, paradoxically, allows the viewer to connect better to this world where intrigue is the only way to survive, no matter whether you're on the good or bad side.