I looked in vain for a negative review of this gem and would have been affronted had I found one. In short it is everything the posers say and much, much more.The brilliant director expects the viewer to be up on not only the life and career of Moliere but also his time - the seventeenth century - and albeit this is asking for the moon it matters not a whit or a jot because the movie is so compelling and even the dim lighting - authentic but most productions would light it anyway - does nothing to break the spell. Brigitte Catillon is the only actress likely to be recognized today given she gets work in top French films like Les Soeurs fachees and Ne le dis personne but there isn't a bad performance in the film. See it, bask in it, and buy it.