Les précieuses ridicules: A dusty, stage-bound mess

Is it worth the watch?

Look, if you are a fan of French theater history, maybe. If you are just a regular person trying to find a good Friday night flick, you might want to skip this one. It is very much a stage play captured on camera, which means it feels a bit cramped and definitely dusty. 🎭

You’ll probably hate this if you need fast pacing or modern cinematography. You’ll dig it if you enjoy watching actors deliver lines like they are shouting to the back row of a theater balcony.

The Vibe

The whole thing feels like a time capsule that hasn't been opened in decades. The performances are huge. I mean, Pierre Dux is really leaning into the bit here, and sometimes you can see the effort dripping off the screen.

It reminds me a bit of the stiff, formal energy in The Woman Suffers, though the tone here is obviously meant to be a comedy. It’s hard to laugh when you’re constantly reminded you’re watching a movie about people acting like they’re in a play.

Odd Little Moments

• The makeup on the ladies is wild. It’s like they were painted with a trowel.
• There is a moment near the middle where a character just stops moving for a solid five seconds. Was it a technical glitch or just dramatic silence? Who knows.
• The way they navigate the small sets makes it look like they’re playing a game of musical chairs.

It’s not quite as visually interesting as something like Vingarne, but it has its moments of charm. If you’ve ever felt like your friends were acting like snobs, you’ll get the joke immediately. It’s basically about two girls who think they’re too good for the world.

They aren’t, obviously. And watching them get taken for a ride is the only reason to stick around.

I found myself wondering if they ever got tired of wearing those massive wigs. My neck hurts just looking at the production stills. 😅

It’s fine. It’s short. It’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s a decent enough look at how Molière was treated by the cameras back in the day. Just don't go in expecting Atlantic-level spectacle.