The Rules of the Game Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: The Rules of The Game
Director: Jean Renoir
Year: 1939
Country: France
Language: French

In polls of the greatest films of all time, Jean Renoir's Rules of the Game usually comes in first or second. Back in 1939 it was considered risky, relevant and incredibly controversial. Edited and Re-Edited, no amount of change would stop this film from being banned in its home country because it was considered a danger to public morale. I first saw this film about a year ago when it was re-released by the Criterion Collection. I was in awe, and continue to be in awe as I learn more about this astounding film.

The story of the film concerns a weekend gathering of wealthy French socialites at a country estate. The focus is on various romantic flirtations and infidelities, involving servants and gentry alike.It has all the external trappings of a light comedy of manners. However, Renoir turns this seemingly conventional material into a multi-layered and profound commentary on the nature of love, society, and the human condition.

When this film was released in 1939, it was quite clear that France was going to war. There was the generally shared feeling of impending catastrophe and social breakdown that would accompany another devastating world war. Left wing people like Renoir clashed with Nazi sympathizers who obviously did nothing to prevent the Nazi Regime's occupation of France. Rules of the Game is a scathing critique on the upper class, showing them as adulterous, child-like, selfish and incredibly ignorant. These thoughts and anxieties toward the upper class are just as valid today. One very memorable scene in this film is when the lead characters hunt rabbits mercilessly, like it's a game. It highlights the nonsensical slaughter of sentient beings for "sport", it is a metaphor for the unreflective way we let our lives be governed by conventional rules that compromise our humanity.

For any human who has lived in our society there are "rules of the game". Social norms and mores, both written and unwritten  that direct our behavior and specify what we can and can't do. For example, a common rule on an elevator is to be silent. Why? However Renoir suggested that in his society the upper class were able to bend these "rules" whenever they pleased and few would stop them. Unfortunately he was correct, and because of the upper classes' ignorance combined with the fact that the masses didn't have the same sense of entitlement and were too afraid of straying from "the rules of the game" horrible things came about in Europe.

In conclusion, while my analysis may make the film seem depressing, I found it inspiring. It taught me not to be careless with love and humanity. It taught me not to abide by silly rules if they didn't make any sense. It taught me not to be afraid, and to stand up against oppressive authority figures. Rules of the Game is also incredibly well made, the cinematography is remarkable. Surely I will need to watch this a few more times to absorb the technical beauty that is a Jean Renoir film. Praise it! 5/5