The Rules of the Game 1950

As aviator André Jurieux lands at Le Bourget Airfield near Paris, he finds himself engulfed in the heavy burden of unreciprocated love, akin to a storm cloud looming overhead. The absence of Christine, the Austrian-French noblewoman who possesses his heart, torments him, leaving him feeling isolated and vulnerable. His friend Octave tries to offer some comfort, yet their friendship cannot ease the sting of rejection. At the same time, Christine listens to André’s heartfelt broadcast from her Paris apartment, accompanied by her discreet maid Lisette.

The narrative takes a turn when it becomes evident that Christine has been married to Robert, Marquis de la Chesnaye, for three years. This revelation sets in motion a carefully orchestrated series of events filled with intrigue and deception. Knowing full well about André’s feelings for Christine, Octave cleverly persuades Robert to invite André to their family estate in La Colinière, Sologne. This seemingly simple invitation is, in fact, a cunning scheme aimed at uniting the two former lovers for a weekend retreat, complete with a hunting excursion and the unexpected company of Robert’s mistress, Geneviève.

As the guests arrive at La Colinière, underlying tensions begin to surface. Schumacher, the gamekeeper, is determined to eliminate rabbits from the estate, while the cunning poacher Marceau plots to take advantage of the situation. His attempts to pilfer from the grounds are soon uncovered by Schumacher, who reports him to Robert. Rather than expelling Marceau, Robert opts to hire him, sensing the potential benefit of his skills.

As the weekend unfolds, complex relationships begin to emerge. Geneviève becomes increasingly aware of Robert’s fading affection, while Christine plays the role of a gracious hostess, encouraging Geneviève to stay despite the emotional undercurrents at play. The hunting expedition, led by Schumacher who seeks vengeance against Marceau, sets the stage for the weekend’s impending complications. The atmosphere is charged with unspoken desires, misunderstandings, and the looming threat of calamity.

During the highlight of the masked ball, an intricate web of emotions is woven. André and Christine openly share their deep feelings, plotting a secret escape together. Meanwhile, Marceau ardently pursues Lisette, inciting jealousy in Schumacher. Chaos erupts as Robert and André find themselves embroiled in a heated conflict over Christine.

Secluded in the tranquility of the greenhouse, Octave discloses his own feelings for Christine, who is now caught in a tumultuous clash of loyalties between André and Octave. Together, they hatch a plan to elope, blissfully unaware that their clandestine affair has been compromised. Schumacher and Marceau, after being expelled from the estate by Robert following a volatile altercation over Lisette, inadvertently stumble upon what they believe to be an inappropriate rendezvous, mistaking Christine for Lisette due to her wearing of Lisette’s cloak.

As Octave steps out to fetch his coat and hat, Lisette implores him not to abandon her for Christine. Struggling with the gravity of André’s concerns, Octave honors André’s desire and sends him to the greenhouse, lending him his overcoat for disguise. Arriving in the borrowed outerwear, André is sadly misidentified by Schumacher as a rival pursuing Lisette, igniting Schumacher’s jealousy and prompting him to act violently.

In the gripping conclusion, Octave and Marceau slip away into the night, leaving Robert to reintegrate Schumacher into the household. With a cool demeanor, Robert maintains that the imminent shooting will be branded as an unfortunate accident, starkly contrasting the emotional turmoil enveloping the estate and its inhabitants.