Sunday, July 14, 2013

Dreaming of France -- Molière


Please join this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.
Maybe we can all satisfy our yearnings for France, until we get there again.
What did you do to celebrate Le Quatorze Juillet?
Yes, we're in the U.S., but don't want to pass up the opportunity to celebrate a French holiday. Our local library had a section of French movies available for the holiday weekend. We watched Molière.
Confession, I did doze off during part of this movie, but I think it had more to do with my early morning rather than the movie. Earl enjoyed it and laughed out loud during parts of it.
The story tells how Molière got the material for his famous play Tartuffe. It begins with him trying and failing to perform a tragedy. Everyone sees that Molière is meant for comedy, but he wants more than a farce. He remembers his own journey and tells it beginning with his arrest for debts. He is bailed out by a rich merchant who wants to catch the eye of a young, beautiful Marquise. He needs Molière's help with writing a play and acting to win the woman's approval. Molière, masquerading as a priest, moves into the merchant's home and is enchanted by the merchant's wife. Hilarity ensues.
I enjoyed the main character with his flowing brown hair and his thin mustache, portraying Molière who lived in the 1600s. His lack of confidence about his writing seemed reassuring as he then grew into a better, more confident writer, whispering words of love. The merchant is, of course, a fool for the Marquise but in the end redeems himself. 
The rest of our Bastille Day celebration included watching the Tour de France as the cyclists headed toward Mont Ventoux, having brie fondue at Bon Vie, a local restaurant, and watching House Hunter's International in Nice. I'd say we immersed ourselves in French culture. 
I'm linking to Paris in July again. I have plenty of French posts this month. Paris in July is hosted by  Thyme for Tea and Bookbath.

  

9 comments:

Teddyree said...

I should have watched Les Mis to celebrate Bastille Day ... forgot all about movies while I had my head in French books. Haven't seen Moliere, not sure it'd keep my culturally handicapped family entertained lol

Paulita said...

Teddyree, I did not expect the teenagers to watch this one!

Louise said...

You certainly did immerse yourself in France for the day. We went to the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. So crowded! Perhaps the most people I've seen anywhere, but spectacular of course, and such an occasion.

Sim Carter said...

Sounds like a good Bastille Day choice - although I guess we would all prefer to be in Paris with Louise watching the fireworks!

Paulita said...

Sim, I agree. I felt a stab of jealousy over Louise's Bastille Day activities.

Joy said...

Moliere looks like something we'd enjoy -- thanks!

Joy's Book Blog

aguja said...

Didn't quite manage how to do the dreaming of France bit. I don't dream of France, but Deborah Lawrenson's `The Lantern' transported me there. It is a beautiful book.

I shall look up your book!! Writing is so exciting - allowing one to breathe properly.

Jeanie said...

Hi, I'm doing PIJuly too -- I've done three or four posts on it and will probably do a couple of others but also integrating them with other stuff. You have to scroll down on Marmelade Gypsy to see them -- at least today!

Your Bastille Day sounds great! Mine involved watching the Tour de France and thinking bout my time there. The film sounds interesting to me. I wasn't familiar with it so thanks for the info!

Joy said...

We just watched this and we were thrilled when we realized that the Jourdain house and estate in the film is "played" by one of the places we visited on our trip: Courances. I posted photos of it here: http://www.joyweesemoll.com/2013/06/17/courances-france/
And even more in my Courances set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joyweesemoll/sets/72157634166143468/

What fun to see those sites in a movie!

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