Still Life by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Still Life

Page 129

Altman's ‘Gosford Park’ is similar to ‘The Rules of the Game’ in many of its plot elements, including the relationship between wealthy people and their servants as well as the hunting sequence. Italian film critic Francis Vanoye stated ‘The Rules of the Game’ has influenced numerous films that feature a group of characters who spend a short time together at a party or gathering; often while hunting animals, during which their true feelings about each other are revealed. Along with ‘Gosford Park,’ these films include Jean Grémillon's ‘Summer Light,’ Ingmar Bergman's ‘Smiles of a Summer Night,’ Carlos Saura's ‘The Hunt,’ Peter Fleischmann's Hunting Scenes from ‘Bavaria,’ Nikita Mikhalkov's ‘An Unfinished Piece for a Player Piano,’ Theo Angelopoulos's ‘The Hunters,’ and Denys Arcand's ‘The Decline of the American Empire.’ Paul Bartel's ‘Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills’ and Lawrence Kasdan's ‘The Big Chill’ have also been compared to ‘The Rules of the Game.’”

Oscar Pynchon leaves the stage, the projector whirrs, and “The Rules of the Game” finally begins.

“Sensitive hearts, faithful hearts, Who shun love whither it does range,

Cease to be so bitter: