Plot

Who was Moliere? He is known everywhere as one of the world's greatest playwrights. But who was he? Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in 1622, the son of a prosperous tapestry maker. His mother died when he was a boy. Growing up in the teeming streets of 17th century Paris, Jean Baptiste received a good Jesuit education and was fascinated by the street fairs and traveling carnivals that flourished in spite of the religious repression and hypocrisy of those cruel times. As a young man he joined the theatrical Bejart family to establish the Illustre-Theatre, which soon went bankrupt. The troupe reformed, found patronage, and went on the road for thirteen years, performing all over France. Poquelin developed his stagecraft adapting Commedia dell Arte plots to please brutalized peasants and cynical townspeople. He also married Madeline Bejart, the widowed daughter of the troupe's founder. Later he entered into a love affair with Mme Bejart's daughter, to the dismay of all. The troupe eventually returned to Paris and, on October 24, 1658, greatly impressed the 20-year old King Louis XIV, later to be called the Sun King. Moliere's life became bound up with the magnificent court at Versailles, and with its intrigues. He wrote, staged and acted in the plays now famous all over the world. He fought with his enemies and his friends, enjoyed success followed by failure, organized court festivities and defended himself against increasingly fanatic religious authorities. Above all, his theater was taken from life as his life was theatrical.—John Christopher <johnpickman@excite.com> revised by John Chapot

Returning to Paris after years spent touring the countryside with his troupe, during which they gained fame for their skill at farce, Molière contemplates what to present in Paris. He would like to write a serious work, but his troupe mates object that he's no good at tragedy; and his royal patron also insists on comedy. He then reflects upon the events that led to the troupe's travels. The unfolding of this story constitutes most of the film, beginning with the troupe's bankruptcy.

Molière is rescued from debtor's prison by a wealthy man who wants to hire him to coach him in acting and writing skills for the purpose of wooing a charming young woman - never mind that he is married - with payment conditional on his success. Desperate, Molière agrees, and comes to live in the man's household disguised as a priest hired to tutor the younger of two daughters. A keen observer, Molière quickly discovers that his employer is comically inept at everything he attempts; his supposed friend, supposedly conveying messages and gifts to the object of his ardor, is swindling him; his wife is kind, attractive and intelligent, and deserves better; and the older daughter has a romance that she keeps secret from her father, with her mother's tacit approval.

Can Molière succeed at his task without becoming embroiled in all of these twists and turns as they wind their way toward an improbable convergence? Clearly not: Molière has found himself a player in a hilarious real-life farce, entangling himself ever more deeply and ultimately discovering the currents of tragedy that flow beneath the surface of the absurd.