Les rustres (2018)
A filmed Comédie-Française staging of Goldoni's biting 1760 comedy, brought to life by Jean-Louis Benoît and a stellar ensemble cast.
Les rustres - Movie Information
- Original Title: Les rustres
- Release Year: 2018
- Directed by: Jean-Louis Benoît
- Type: Movie
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French
- Production Companies: Petit Théâtre de Naples, France Télévisions
- Production Countries: France
Les rustres - Plot
Written in 1760, Carlo Goldoni's comedy has never been performed at the Comédie-Française, perhaps overshadowed by the famous Holiday Trilogy. A satire of the Venetian merchant class, embodied by narrow-minded, complaining and intolerant men whose mistrust of the fairer sex borders on the absurd, The Boors perfectly illustrates Goldoni's theatre, a "theatre of life with a real content, characters observed in reality, and a natural expression." Thus, a theatre in which the man Voltaire described as "nature's son and painter" scrutinises his contemporaries, their relationships and their social behaviour. His work served to entertain while providing posterity with an acute testimony of the morals of his time. Indeed, Jean-Louis Benoit warns against reducing the author to a simple "photographer of reality".
Where to Watch Les rustres
Looking for where to watch Les rustres?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Les rustres - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Jean-Louis Benoît
Main Cast
- Gérard Giroudon
- Bruno Raffaelli
- Céline Samie
- Coraly Zahonero
- Clotilde de Bayser
- Laurent Natrella
- Christian Hecq
- Rebecca Marder
- Nicolas Lormeau
- Christophe Montenez
Les rustres - FAQs
What is Les rustres about?
Les rustres is a filmed version of Carlo Goldoni's 1760 comedy satirising the Venetian merchant class. It follows narrow-minded, intolerant men whose distrust of women borders on the absurd. Director Jean-Louis Benoît stages the play as a sharp social comedy that reveals the morals and relationships of 18th-century Venetian society.
Is Les rustres based on a play?
Yes, Les rustres is a filmed staging of Carlo Goldoni's comedy I Rusteghi, written in 1760. Goldoni was an 18th-century Venetian playwright celebrated for grounding theatre in observed reality and social behaviour. The play had never previously been performed at the Comédie-Française before this production.
Who are the main actors in Les rustres?
The cast features prominent Comédie-Française actors including Gérard Giroudon, Bruno Raffaelli, Céline Samie, Coraly Zahonero, Clotilde de Bayser, Laurent Natrella, Christian Hecq, Rebecca Marder, Nicolas Lormeau, and Christophe Montenez.
Why had Les rustres never been staged at the Comédie-Française?
Goldoni's Les rustres had long been overshadowed by his celebrated Holiday Trilogy, which dominated the Comédie-Française's Goldoni repertoire. This 2018 production by Jean-Louis Benoît marked a historic first for the institution, finally bringing this sharp social satire to one of France's most prestigious stages.
Who directed Les rustres?
Les rustres was directed by Jean-Louis Benoît, a French theatre director known for his work with the Comédie-Française. Benoît approached Goldoni's text with care, cautioning against reducing the playwright to a mere "photographer of reality" and emphasising the deeper social and moral dimensions of his work.
What language is Les rustres in?
Les rustres is performed and filmed entirely in French. The original play by Goldoni was written in Venetian dialect, but this Comédie-Française production presents it in French, making it fully accessible to French-speaking audiences while preserving the spirit and wit of the original 18th-century comedy.
What are some films similar to Les rustres?
If you enjoyed Les rustres, you might also like Hamilton (2025), a filmed stage musical, Theater Camp (2023), which celebrates theatrical performance, and And Their Children After Them (2024). Better Nate Than Ever (2022) and Good Grief (2023) also offer engaging character-driven stories with a theatrical sensibility.
When was Les rustres released?
Les rustres was released in 2018. It is a filmed recording of the Comédie-Française stage production directed by Jean-Louis Benoît, produced in association with Petit Théâtre de Naples and France Télévisions, making this landmark staging of Goldoni's comedy available to a wider audience.
More About Les rustres
Explore further details and databases for Les rustres.