AllMovie

Jean-Louis Barrault (1910-1994) was most well-known for his abilities as a mime, but his comic talents are brought out in the witty remarks he makes on his work and life in this biographical documentary. Barrault and his wife Madeleine Renaud left the Comédie Française in 1946 to form their own company, and Barrault also directed the Thèâtre de France and the Thèâtre de Nations for a time. Various colleagues offer their insights and tributes to the actor, including Jeanne Moreau, Peter Brook, and Pierre Boulez. Barrault covers such diverse topics as the 1968 student riots, his feud with André Malraux, and highlights from his career -- including an impromptu scene from Faulkner. For anyone interested in French pantomime, theater, and cinema, this documentary is both informative and entertaining.