The Rules of the Game

As aviator André Jurieux (actor name) touches down at Le Bourget Airfield outside Paris, the weight of his unrequited love crashes down upon him like a turbulent storm cloud. The absence of Christine, the Austrian-French noblewoman who holds his heart captive, is a palpable blow, and he is left feeling adrift and vulnerable. His friend Octave attempts to console André, but even their camaraderie cannot dull the ache of rejection. Meanwhile, Christine herself listens in on André's broadcasted lamentations from her Parisian apartment, surrounded by the quiet observance of her maid Lisette.

As it becomes clear that Christine has been married to Robert, Marquis de la Chesnaye, for three years, a delicate dance of deception and intrigue begins to unfold. Octave, well aware of André's passion for Christine, manipulates Robert into inviting his friend to the family estate at La Colinière in Sologne. The seemingly innocent gesture is actually a clever ploy to bring the two former lovers together under one roof. And so, a weekend retreat is planned, complete with the promise of a hunting excursion and the presence of Robert's mistress, Geneviève.

As the guests arrive at La Colinière, tensions simmer just beneath the surface. Schumacher, the gamekeeper, is obsessed with eradicating rabbits from the estate's grounds, while Marceau, a cunning poacher, sees an opportunity to pilfer from the property. His illicit activities are soon discovered by Schumacher, who promptly reports him to Robert. Rather than turning Marceau away, however, Robert decides to hire him as a servant, sensing that his new employee's skills could be put to good use.

As the weekend wears on, relationships become increasingly complicated. Geneviève finds herself being cold-shouldered by Robert, who confesses that he no longer loves her. Christine, ever the consummate hostess, convinces Geneviève to stay, sensing that there is more at play than mere romantic heartache. As the guests begin their hunting expedition, led by Schumacher and his grudge against Marceau, it becomes clear that this weekend retreat will be anything but a straightforward affair. The stage is set for a tangled web of desires, deceptions, and ultimately, devastating consequences.

As the masked ball's revelry reaches its climax, a tapestry of tangled emotions unfolds. André and Christine confess their ardor for each other, forging a plan to escape together. Meanwhile, Marceau pursues Lisette with zealous enthusiasm, while Schumacher's ire simmers in response to their flirtation. The usually tranquil atmosphere is disrupted as Robert and André engage in a heated dispute over Christine's affections.

In the secluded serenity of the greenhouse, Octave reveals his own romantic inclinations towards Christine, who now finds herself torn between her love for André and her growing sentiments for Octave. The pair conspires to abscond together, unaware that their secrecy has been compromised. Schumacher and Marceau, both banished from the estate by Robert after a violent altercation over Lisette, happen upon the tender tryst, mistakenly identifying Christine as Lisette due to her donning of the latter's cape and hood.

Octave departs the manor to retrieve his coat and hat, where he is met with a plea from Lisette not to abandon her for Christine. Heeding André's concerns, Octave breaks his promise to Christine and dispatches him to the greenhouse, lending him his overcoat as a disguise. When André arrives at the greenhouse clad in Octave's outerwear, Schumacher misconstrues him as the would-be lover of Lisette and, fueled by jealousy, takes aim with deadly intent.

As the film draws to a close, Octave and Marceau vanish into the night, leaving Robert to reintegrate Schumacher back into the household. With an air of nonchalance, Robert assures that the shooting will be reported as a regrettable accident, a stark contrast to the turmoil that has beset the estate's residents.