Bicycling with Molière

Serge Tanneur (Fabrice Luchini), at the height of his acting career, chooses to leave the entertainment industry behind and live as a recluse on the coast of France’s Atlantic. Three years pass, and Gauthier Valence (Lambert Wilson), a popular television actor, arrives on the island to propose a role to Serge in his first film as a director—a version of Molière’s renowned play, “The Misanthrope.” Initially, Serge declines the offer but then proposes they practice the opening scene, agreeing to make his decision about participating in the play after five days. This leads to a clash of strength and intellect, along with unusual interactions with a hotel maid aspiring to be a porn star and an Italian divorcée.