The Rules of the Game
(La Regle du Jeu)
Release date 8th July 1939
Country : France
Running time : 113 mins
Genre : Drama
Starring Marcel Dalio, Nora Gregor, Jean Renoir
 Screenplay by Jean Renoir and Carl Koch
Directed by Jean Renoir



A weekend shooting party results in complex romances between both servants and masters. The weekend ends in tragedy.

On the surface a simplistic drama about a high society party but there is a huge amount going on underneath. The French at the time recognised the satire of the privileged classes and their passing into history but also the critique of a country unprepared for war. The film was rejected by contemporary audiences because they saw themselves being reflected on the screen and as Renoir said  "People who commit suicide don't care to do it in front of witnesses." 

 

Audiences even ripped up cinema seats in protest at this film. Claiming it was bad for the morale of the country it was banned by the French government about a month after its release.