Au Soleil même la nuit

This is a film about the rehearsing of Molières Tartuffe in 1995 Working handheld or with a stand for up to 12 hours a day cameraman Eric Darmon became so much part of the landscape that he had a totally free hand in documenting the plays gestation complete with director Ariane Mnouchkines instructions urgings and moments of uncertainty Every action decision and all the tensions elation gaffes and bouts of craziness were filmed as they happened And then along came editor Catherine Vilpoux faced with 580 hours of rushes and a titanic exercise in viewing sorting selecting and assembling Gradually the film took shape a shape that reflects the Théâtre du Soleils commitment to finding the right theatrical form Ultimately is this a film about stage directing About a troupe of actors About the way actors work About how an actor is born About the learning process The teaching process The theatre Life Probably all of that And an unparalleled work of its kind