Jean Renoir crafted something of madcap comedy masterpiece when he made The Rules of the Game, but sadly the studios didn’t see it that way and so they cut it down. For a long time, thanks to historical events like a second World War, the original cut was believed lost, but a copy was pieced together and has now been fully restored for a Blu-ray release. Exactly what set off the test audience and led to the studio cuts is hard to determine from what’s presented here, because as is, The Rules of the Game is a uniquely constructed story about love and the dozen people affected by its unscrupulous touch. With romantic convictions flying every which way and emotions discarded and revived in the blink of an eye, the film is still every bit as valid a commentary on Western culture’s treatment of love as a commodity to be exchanged on a whim.
What should have been a peaceful weekend at an aristocrat’s country retreat sees him inviting a number of guests to indulge in all his property has to offer, but in order to satisfy a friend’s favor, he also welcomes a man who has his eye set on the same woman. It’s not that simple though, because even the woman in question has no idea which man she fancies, and her indecision seems mirrored by a number of other couples among the live-in staff. As the weekend carries on, secrets come out and loves true form is revealed, but with hilarious and tragic results alike.
It would be so easy to discard The Rules of the Game as a whimsical statement on the fickle nature of love, but Jean Renoir makes it perfectly clear that his commentary isn’t on the abstract element toying with the hearts of the people, but rather the people themselves. The men and women of the country retreat see love as less an objective and more a tool to reach certain outcomes or physical pleasures. The latter isn’t too uncommon, but with the former sees every player in the twisted game of chess doing whatever it takes while still adhering to an absurd notion of arbitrary but seemingly universally acknowledged rules for the pursuit of love. Who made the rules? Who decided love had rules? Why the people who know what they want and what needs to be restricted in order to get it. Only this time around, no one really gets what they want; because you can’t regulate abstract notions.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
Traditionally Criterion Collection releases have one to two interviews or essays packed into the insert booklet, but for The Rules of the Game there’s considerably more than that. To start, there are two pieces from Jean Renoir himself, including one of his many early synopses and his own personal take on the film’s themes and messages. From outside perspectives, you have an essay by Alexander Sesonske on the motivations of each character in the tangled web of love in The Rules of the Game, the memoirs of Henri Cartier-Bresson who served as the assistant director on the film, and further expressions of appreciation by film critic and director Bertrand Tavernier. Finally, a collection of notes of adoration for Renoir and his “masterpiece” from the likes of Francois Truffaut, Amy Taubin, Paul Schrader, Noah Baumbach, Luc Sante, J. Hoberman, Wim Wenders, Cameron Crowe, and a particularly succinct one from Robert Altman.
On the disc, you again have more extras than the typical Criterion release includes for other films and that seems rather fitting considering The Rules of the Games is a classic on a level above most others. First, there’s an intro to the film by Jean Renoir, which definitely ought to be watched before the film as it offers some badly needed context. The audio commentary, by contrast, can’t boast the same sense of necessity. Film scholar Alexander Sesonske certainly has a lot to say about the film, but it’s kind of odd to hear his notes read by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich. There’s an obvious disconnect between the mind and the mouth and it’s an odd way to experience The Rules of the Game. Better on this count is the analysis of certain scenes by Chris Faulkner, who should’ve done a full commentary as his notes easily beat out those of Sesonske’s.
For visual extras, we get to see the alternate ending of the film as compared to the original, painstakingly restored version as well as a conversation between Jean Gaborit and Jacques Durand, the two men responsible for the film’s rejuvenation, and a video essay detailing the process. Further interviews include pieces with the film’s set designer, film critic Oliver Curchod, Renoir’s son Alain, and actress Mila Parely. Finally, the first part of a two-part documentary on Renoir and clips from a TV series dedicated to Renoir’s work close out the disc.
"The Rules of the Game (The Criterion Collection)" is on sale November 15, 2011 and is not rated. Comedy. Directed by Jean Renoir. Written by Jean Renoir, Carl Koch. Starring Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost, Mila Parely, Odette Talazac, Claire Gerard.
