The Rules of the Game (Mini Review)

Brandon Thompson
Aug 18, 2018
2 min read

I went in expecting "a scathing critique of corrupt French society" and I did but I also thought it was quite charming. As a fan of Godard's Contempt, Weekend, and other films fuelled by the class system I was wanting something similar. The more alluring take on French upper class certainly lays the groundwork for the filmmakers of Godard's era and beyond but it I thought it lacked the ferociousness of what came after it. I still admired the film's classical style which I am sure would have been groundbreaking at the time and has had an impact on everything that came after it.

Its influence can be felt on filmmakers like Anderson, Altman, Truffaut, and Visconti. Each of these directors was probably intrigued by the nuance in the film's flamboyant style and characters. The way Renoir critiques society in this film is much more subtle but this is what has probably captivated audiences for almost 80 years. The mise-en-scene isn’t as noticeable as other landmark films of the era such as Citizen Kane but its just as effective. Just like Kane’s technical decisions stem from the characters, so does The Rules of the Game. Its baroque sets and costume design also extends to the dazzling camera work. This film undoubtedly has helped define classical film making and even if you detest the film you can't deny this fact.

One thing that stood out for me was the ignorance of the characters. They often ignored each other but there was also limited reference to the political situation of the late 30s, which is obviously the lead-up and start of WW2. Maybe this was a conscious decision from Renoir to go in a different direction from his previous film, ‘Grand Illusion’. Or The Rules of the Game was just a more sophisticated and subtle approach to it.

At points, I struggled to understand the tone of the film. Is it a drama? A comedy? A romance? Some scenes were quite obvious, the one where a man chases another for flirting with his wife was easily the funniest of the film. The opening scene is one that in retrospect makes more sense. It’s quite ridiculous that man would fly over the Atlantic and only feel disappointment because the woman he did it for wasn’t there to greet him. Another viewing would be necessary for me to properly understand what the intended tone is.

Every viewing of the film could focus on a different character as there is a lot to take in. This will obviously reward multiple viewings and I will definitely be revisiting this film in the future. Especially once I read more about the influence of the baroque style and getting a chance to watch scenes with a more careful eye to admire its technical virtuoso and brilliance.