Moliere

I watched 'Moliere', a biopic of the French playwright today.
Anyway, something silly, before I talk about the movie proper...
Today I watched the movie alone -
When I watch a no-brainer movie,
or one purely for entertainment,
I would go with somebody.
But when I'm in there to learn something
about the writing, the plot/story...
I prefer going alone,
as I tend to get distracted with someone beside me.
Strange habit I have!

And I have digresssed!
Back to the silly thing that happened...
As I was alone,
I wanted to get a seat that is hidden at one corner.
So I chose seat A1, at one corner.
But when I entered the theatre,
lo and behold,
there was this strange looking guy seated at seat A2,
while the entire row was empty!
The idea of 2 guys who don't know each other
sitting side by side in a dark corner of a theatre for 2 hours
didn't seem very welcoming to me,
so I invaded the seat at the other corner of the empty cinema,
praying very hard that that seat had not been bought.
In a while, 2 guys came over and sat in my row beside the aisle,
leaving a few empty seats between us.
The film then started,
and I thought I was safe.
But a few minutes later,
a group of 5 persons came in and proceeded to my row.
There were only 4 empty seats,
and just as I was preparing to evacuate my stolen seat
to prevent a row,
the 2 guys beside the aisle gave their's up
and saved me!
Hmm, actually I suspect that the 2 guys were also not sitting
at their designated seats,
since they stood up for the latecomers so readily,
but I do feel a bit guilty since I was in the wrong too!

Anyway, 'Moliere''s quite a silly movie.
(Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
It's about how Moliere was thrown into prison for not paying his taxes,
and how a boorish rich man Jourdain bailed him out,
on the condition that Moliere teach him acting skills,
so that he could woo a young coquette.
In the process,
Moliere fell in love with Jourdain's wife,
and she inspired him to become the great comic writer that the world would know.

The plot is non-linear,
starting with Moliere receiving the news that Mrs Jourdain's dying,
and then we were brought back 13 years earlier to where the main plot happens,
and finally back to Mrs Jourdain's deathbed again.

The autumn-summer romance between Mrs Jourdain and Moliere
was a bit weird.
She was visibly so much older than him,
and Moliere looked so much more compatible with her daughter.
The premise of their romance was also rather tacky.
He merely stole a glance at her bare back through a window,
and then became head over heels in love with her.

Jourdain provided the comic moments in the film.
Here's my favourite one (I've forgotten the actual lines, so I'm making some up):

Jourdain: Help me write a letter to accompany the ring I'm giving to my lover.

Moliere: What do you want me to write?

Jourdain: "My fair maiden, if thou accept this ring, I shall die of love." But write it in a prettier way.

Moliere then suggests something pompous, (I've completely forgotten the lines) which Jourdain rejects.

Moliere: Then my suggestion to you would be "Fair maiden mine, if thou this ring accept, I shall die of love." Or "Maiden fair mine, this ring if thou accept, die of love I shall." blah bah.

Basically, he changes the word order of Jourdain's original lines - quite funny.

Anyway, the movie's NC-16, for a very minor making out scene.
Actually, the actors were fully clothed.
Granted there were some 'cries of passion',
though I've seen far worse things on TV,
but I guess the local censors have to ensure that the
'pure and innocent' minds
of our youths do not get corrupted,
and hence the rating.

I agree (from both religious and moral standpoints) that unwholesome images
should be kept out.

Having said that,
when we are talking about 'control' and 'regulation' generally,
it may/may not be (delete as you wish) good to be too absolute.
Leaves little room for freedom and creativity.