Mnouchkine's "Moliere": Death scene

(1978) Ariane Mnouchkine wrote & produced this often impressionistic, visually stunning film on the life of Moliere. This clip shows (rather surrealistically) the death of Moliere, just after he collapsed after coughing blood during a performance of "La Malade Imaginaire". Accompanying music is "What power art thou" from Purcell's "King Arthur".

Other memorable scenes include the Carnival in Paris, spectacular and somewhat sinister, the candlelight performance of the traveling theater troop he later joins, and a fireworks-accompanied ascent of the Sun King.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Mnouchkine
• Moliere
• Louis
• XIV
• Illutriuous
• Theater
• 1978
• Philippe
• Caubère
• Frédéric
• Ladonne

[mirandalagos]

C'est vraiment émouvant...La musique...Surtout la montée des escaliers,c'est magnifique, il font semblant de monter afin de laisser du temps pour la musique et d'avoir des flash back sur la vie de Molière... C'est vrai ! Molière est mort dans sa chambre 10 heures plus tard après "le malade imaginaire", ce rôle dont il jouait était tellement gros et risqué à jouer que Molière raccourcit sa vie. Et aussi une chose: Certains le détestent, certains l'aimait. Les acteurs le montrent bien.

[zootopian07]

Thank you for posting this.

I wasn't 20 when I saw it. I knew I've had the chance to see a real masterpiece. This is still a vivid memory.

Yet, almost 30 years later I still consider Ariane Mnouchkine's film one of the most impressive piece of the 7th Art.

Probably a 4 hours' film is very demanding nowadays... but I absolutely recommend it!

[A3cello]

J'adore la musique de Purcell...♥

Ca va trop bien avec le film!

[louky92i]

L'une des plus belles scenes du cinema..

[CaptainBluebear08]

With the Alfred Deller Consort.

[urbankheki]

You run up the stairs feeling as if you stood still - as in a nightmarish dream.

Yes, it's a weird (but absolutely right) metaphor of dying...

[rachelva]

Thanks for posting. Have remembered the movie, this scene in particular, since seeing it in a high school French class.

[Jesperlutz]

One of the best movies ever. I saw it 8 times when I was around 20 and have looked for it ever since . I want to see it again!

[konni29]

Thanks for this impressive scene.

Does anyone know where they are carrying Moliere???

[RHCPdada]

breathtaking