Screening and discussion of L'esquive (Games of Love and Chance, 2003) directed by Abdel
Kechiche. The screening is followed by a conversation with Stanford professor Cecile Alduy. PLEASE NOTE: The date of this screening has been switched with that of Poetical Refugee, which is now on May 9.
Synopsis: This award-winning tale of love and friendship recasts the famous 18th-century play Games of Love and Chance by Marivaux in a present-day French outer-city ghetto. As a group of high school students rehearse the play for a school performance, they also struggle with their own words backstage--in the housing project--to discover their own conflicted feelings of amorous rivalry and class identity. The brilliant juxtaposition of ghetto slang and aristocratic language
also known as "marivaudage" reveals behind the burning actuality of ghetto violence and exclusion in a universal coming-of-age and love story.
In a sweeping victory, Games of Love and Chance upset A Very Long Engagement and The Chorus at the 2005 César Awards, taking home Best Film, Best Director, Best Female Newcomer and Best Screenplay awards.
Cast: Sara Forestier, Osman Elkharraz, Sabrina Ouazani
4 "Cesar" awards in 2005, including best film and best scenario.
The films are in French with English subtitles. Conversation will be in English. Part of the series "From Script to Screen: Conversations on Contemporary French Cinema," sponsored by the Research Unit in the Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages.