- Release year: 2026
- Director: Martin Darondeau and Bertrand Usclat.
- Producers: Mathieu Verhaeghe and Thomas Verhaegue.
- Screenplay by: Pauline Clément, Clémence Dargent, Martin Darondeau, and Bertrand Usclat.
- Cinematography by: Hugo Paturel.
- Music by: Clément Ducol.
Synopsis: Three hours before it begins, a woman’s premiere of her first play is threatened by an avalanche of issues.
Shotgun Commentary: Hilarious, frantic, wildly realistic.
Review
De la Comédie-Française is a frenzied comedy that follows a woman’s epic fight against fate to premiere the first play she has ever directed. If you enjoyed Saturday Night (2024), watching this feature is completely non-negotiable.
A woman’s world
The film follows Nina (Pauline Clément). She is a woman in her forties that does not get taken seriously due to her youthful appearance and kind disposition. Still, she has been working hard with her peers to bring to life her own vision of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a complex play that seems to get more and more difficult as the premiere approaches. You follow Nina during the final three hours before the play is set to begin, from the moment she arrives at the location until the curtains rise.
Much like Lorne in Saturday Night, Nina goes around putting off fires all over the place. Only, in this case, she has the added disadvantage of being a woman, meaning it is way harder for her to get heard, much less obeyed. This becomes apparent within the first ten minutes of the film, when men gaslight her, ignore her, cut her off, and treat her like she is a child playing with matches instead of a grown woman who has worked hard to be where she is. It is in this delicate balance between annoying and hilarious that the movie threads to send very clear messages while simultaneously providing you with a fun experience.
Stellar cast
Naturally, the message would be completely lost without talented writing and gifted performances. Clément eats up this role, nailing every single beat regardless of its nature. Sadness, comedy, surprise, fear, anger… Nina goes through a whole range of emotions constantly, switching from one to the next swiftly, yet Clément makes that emotional chaos seamless. Joining her fantastic performance are Marina Hands as Emilie, Laurent Stocker as Philippe, and Adeline D’Hermy as Suzanne, among others. Still, the most charming and charismatic supporting role is undoubtedly Nadine, played by Danièle Lebrun.
Her character is not the most present on screen, but it is definitely the most interesting. Nadine is the oldest actress in the troupe. While all other actors are doing their strange rituals before the play begins, she smokes a joint. Now, this moment is a source of many laughs throughout the second half of the film.
Both the buildup and the consequences of this act bring a dash of insanity to the story that manages to keep it light even through the most dramatic bits. However, Nadine is also the most tragic character, as the life she has led is not as wonderful as she makes it sound. She is the main character in the shortest and most tragic storyline in the film, that of an actress that has lost her audience and herself.
All in all, De la Comédie Française is a fantastic comedy full of very realistic surreal circumstances, eclectic characters, and riotous moments. The pace is spot on, and the ending could not be better. If you are itching for a good comedy, do keep an eye out for this film.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Never forget your access pass.
- All affairs end up exposed sooner or later.
- Never afraid to be assertive.
What’s your take? Have you watched De la Comédie-Française? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀