Molière pour rire et pour pleurer — Season 1, Episode 5: Episode 5
Comedy, Drama, Documentary, Family • 54 min • 1 season, 6 episodes • ★ 9.5/10
Episode synopsis
Molière moves from disappointment to disappointment. His plays fail to win unanimous praise, Racine — his treacherous friend — enjoys triumphant beginnings, and Armande’s jealousy grows. She reproaches him for neglecting her in favor of the young “Baron,” the son Molière never had. Poquelin then writes a toned‑down version of Tartuffe to present to the public.
About Molière pour rire et pour pleurer
Molière pour rire et pour pleurer recounts the life of Jean‑Baptiste Poquelin, from his childhood in an artisan family to his rise as Molière, a central figure of French theatre. The series shows his difficult decision to abandon the family trade and join Madeleine Béjart to found L’Illustre Théâtre, marked by debts and repeated setbacks. While touring the provinces, he shapes his style and discovers the power of comedy. Back in Paris, he makes a name for himself with Les Précieuses ridicules, but his sharp satires provoke fierce opposition, especially during the Tartuffe scandal. Supported by Louis XIV, he continues despite attacks, literary rivalries, and tensions within his troupe, particularly with Armande Béjart. The miniseries also follows his growing exhaustion, his determination to perform at any cost, and his final breath after Le Malade imaginaire, the ultimate symbol of an artist who lived — and died — for the stage.