Molière pour rire et pour pleurer

Synopsis

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.

Cast

Jean-Pierre Darras

Molière

Caroline Cellier

Amande

Marianne Comtell

Madeleine Béjart

Roger Miremont

Molière jeune

Crew

Art

• André Jary Set Decoration

Camera

• Pierre Petit Camera Operator

Crew

• Georges Neveux Script
• Jean Aurenche Script
• Pierre Bost Script

Directing

• Marcel Camus Director
• Claude Brulé Script Coordinator

Sound

• Georges Delerue Music

Writing

• Georges Neveux Adaptation
• Claude Brulé Adaptation

Seasons & episodes