Movie spotlight
Les rustres
Written in 1760, Carlo Goldoni’s comedy has never been performed at the Comédie-Française, perhaps overshadowed by the famousHoliday Trilogy. A satire of the Venetian merchant class, embodied by narrow-minded, complaining and intolerant men whose mistrust of the fairer sex borders on the absurd, The Boors perfectly illustrates Goldoni’s theatre, a “theatre of life with a real content, characters observed in reality, and a natural expression.” Thus, a theatre in which the man Voltaire described as “nature’s son and painter” scrutinises his contemporaries, their relationships and their social behaviour. His work served to entertain while providing posterity with an acute testimony of the morals of his time. Indeed, Jean-Louis Benoit warns against reducing the author to a simple “photographer of reality”.
Insights
Plot Summary
Two aristocratic brothers, Jean-Charles and Alexandre, live in a magnificent château, but their opulent lifestyle is threatened by imminent bankruptcy. Desperate, they hatch a plan to marry Alexandre off to a wealthy heiress. Their schemes take an unexpected turn when they encounter a group of boisterous and unconventional 'rustics' who disrupt their carefully orchestrated plans.
Critical Reception
Les Rustres was met with a generally negative reception from critics, who often cited its predictable plot, weak humor, and uninspired performances. Audiences also seemed unimpressed, contributing to its low ratings.
What Reviewers Say
Criticized for its unoriginal and derivative humor.
Panned for its lackluster script and predictable storyline.
Noted for its poor pacing and lack of engaging characters.
Google audience: Information regarding Google user reviews and specific audience feedback for 'Les Rustres' is not readily available in public domain.
Fun Fact
The film is an adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's 18th-century Italian play 'I rusteghi', showcasing a classic comedic premise transposed to a modern French setting.
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