L'avare

A splendid Harpagon, high respect for Moliere text, a not conventional scenography and a seductive end. A great play, a wise adaptation of it and the genius of louis de Funes.

As a huge fan of Louis de Funès, I had high hopes for The Miser, but unfortunately, this adaptation fails to capture his usual charm. The story, based on Molière's classic play, feels overly theatrical and stagnant, with little to keep the audience engaged.

De Funès, known for his high-energy performances, seems constrained by the material, unable to inject his signature comedic flair into the role. The pacing is slow, and the humor often falls flat, making the film feel more like a dull stage production than a lively cinematic experience. While de Funès shines in many other films, The Miser is a rare miss that's difficult to recommend, even for devoted fans.

L'avare is not my all-time favorite play but it is worth seeing, since Harpagon is a truly memorable character. And in this version Harpagon is played by the extremely funny Louis de Funès, which, as usual, shines. The original script has not been touched, so it may be hard for some to get into the movie, and since the sets are minimal, a little imagination is required. But if you get into it, you'll have fun. The cast is good, but the play is centered around Harpagon and Louis de Funès is absolutely perfect for that role. This is a comedy as in comedy at the time of Molière. At this time, a comedy was a play thats IS NOT a tragedy, meaning it does not have a sad ending, so don't expect a laugh-out-loud comedy. One thing that I don't like about this play/movie is the end. But this movie is still worth your time, even if it is just to introduce you to Molière.

75%

Adapting a literary source to another medium requires some work, it is not just copying it. Molière's play has a brilliant text, but this attempt to translate it to a film keeping the traits of theater was a serious failure. Both in the kind of set (not only simple but explicitly suggesting it is a stage) and in the way of acting (overacting, often campy), the conception of tgis movie is made clear, but it does not work.

L'Avare (1980) isn't my favorite foreign film but I still like it. The set is minimal, and inaccurate for time period. However, it has a Monty Python feel which I love. Louis De Funés plays an awesome Harpagon and invigorates Moliére's classic. The slapstick comedy and Louis De Funés' facial expressions help bridge the gap of the era in which the script was written to the present. I definitely prefer this version to others I've seen with bigger budgets. Others take what is supposed to be a comedy and turn it into a dramatic period piece. All in all, this film is worth your time if you are looking for a way to make French Classicism more bearable.