Running for just over two hours, this chronicle traces nearly the thinker's entire life, from his arrival in Rouen when his father was appointed royal commissioner for tax collection to his death in Paris at the age of 39. The overall atmosphere is rather austere, even during his years in fashionable society, and the music is often hauntingly repetitive. The pacing of certain scenes, such as the maneuvering of the carriage at the beginning or the witchcraft trial, may now feel somewhat dated. Yet the dialogue, often closely based on Pascal's writings, is a delight, as are the portrayals of several illustrious figures, including René Descartes. The verbal sparring with Father Noël (whose first name is Étienne) over the vacuum remains highly entertaining. Although Pascal's triangle is not mentioned, and probability is touched on only via the famous wager, we are treated to well-informed discussions of conic sections, the Pascaline and cycloids. Finally, the philosopher is played by a young Pierre Arditi in one of his first major roles.
