Fanny Valette

After a night of partying in Paris, two friends hail a taxi to take them home to the suburbs, but when the time comes to pay the fare, they run.

In the tradition of Shakespeare in Love, Moliere invents a fanciful yarn based on speculative historical fiction taken from a piece of real life -- in this case, the mysterious disappearance of the French playwright for several months in 1644 -- and concocts a thoroughly irresistible and lavish story of intrigue, romance, comedy and artistic inspiration. As Moliere, the magnetic Romain Duris displays all of his usual seductive intensity, but also pulls off goofy Gallic charm. There's something of a modern rock star to him, almost a cousin to Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. In addition there's a superb cast of actors, and visually viewers are taken on a sumptuous, wild ride through Versailles-era France. This absorbing romp has an infectious sense of fun that lingers well after the curtain falls.