Coming July 4
Rocambolesque
FILM D'ÉPOQUE  |  19 MINUTES  |  2016

Un écrivain affamé menace de tuer son héros de feuilleton si son éditeur refuse de l’augmenter.

A starving writer threatens to kill off his serialized hero unless his editor agrees to raise his pay.
Coming July 4
RocambolesqueRocambolesque
FILM D'ÉPOQUE  |  19 MINUTES  |  2016

Un écrivain affamé menace de tuer son héros de feuilleton si son éditeur refuse de l’augmenter.

A starving writer threatens to kill off his serialized hero unless his editor agrees to raise his pay.

Short Film  |  After Shorts 
Phrasebook  |  Quiz

Empty space, drag to resize
Discover all the

Video Player
Features

Adjust play speed
Too fast? Try x0.75!
Toggle full screen
For a cinematic experience.
Display transcript
Click a word to hear it in context.
Empty space, drag to resize
Rocambolesque

1. Watch the film

Choose your experience

Click below to watch with:
  • No subtitles
  • French subtitles
  • English subtitles
Click this symbol on the video progress bar to access subtitles and transcript.
Click below to watch with: 
French + English dual subtitles
Display both subtitles at once.
Empty space, drag to resize
After Shorts with Julien and Léa
With Julien and Léa

2. Watch After Shorts

Expressions you'll learn:

 Part 1

  • Se confier à quelqu'un
  • S'en tirer
  • Augmenter
  • Le tirage
  • La bedaine

 Part 2

  • Céder
  • Un feuilleton
  • Quelle mouche t'a piquée?
  • Nous voilà bien avancés
  • Un rebondissement
Phrasebook

3. Review with the Film Phrasebook

Find all expressions explained in After Shorts and more!

  • Understand the meaning and nuances of each phrase, with a breakdown in English of literal and contextual translations.
  • With Language Register Labels to ensure you know exactly when and where each expression is safe to use, whether it's for a formal setting, everyday conversation, or among close friends.
Language registers
Quiz

4. Reinforce what you’ve learned

With our interactive quizzes

  • Built around the language and phrases featured in After Shorts
  • Get instant results and explanations
  • Hear the phrases spoken by native speakers

About this film

Empty space, drag to resize
Rocambolesque
Synopsis (fr)
Paris, XIXe siècle. Ponson du Terrail, jeune auteur sans le sou, se heurte au refus de son éditeur d’augmenter son salaire. Ultime recours : suspendre les aventures de Rocambole, son héros adulé. Mais comment négocier quand la plume est tout ce qu’il vous reste ? Une comédie historique savoureuse sur le pouvoir de la fiction, la précarité des artistes… et l'art du cliffhanger.
Synopsis (en)
Paris, 19th century. Struggling writer Ponson du Terrail has had enough—his editor refuses to raise his pay. So he does the unthinkable: he halts the adventures of Rocambole, his wildly popular hero. What follows is a witty historical comedy about artistic precarity, narrative power, and the timeless tension between creators and publishers. Because sometimes, the pen is mightier than the paycheck.
Director: Loïc Nicoloff; Production: Philippe Braunstein; Image: Xavier Dolléans; Sound: Samy Bardet, Matthieu Dellaporta, Renaud Michel; Editing: Nathan Delannoy; Soundtrack: Manuel Bleton
Cast: Pierre Cachia, Amaury De Crayencour, Frédéric Gomy, Eric Mariotto, Jean-Philippe Meyer, Philippe Othrel, Emilie Piponnier