French Cinema - Tumblr Posts
37°2 Le Matin (Betty Blue) - Directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix, 1986
This week for my film club we watched one of my friend's favourite films, the uniquely provocative Titane.
We sometimes pick topics and then vote on a film that fits the theme and this was the winner for a topic I chose: "Jekyll and Hyde films", or more specifically: films you first expect to be about one thing/genre, to go a certain way and leave you feeling a particular emotion but which completely upend that assumption and turn out to be about something quite different and leave you feeling something much more unforeseen.
This fit that bill *perfectly*, deftly switching from a distinctive but potentially predictable psychosexual horror to something quite, quite different and really very beautiful. Transporting our protagonist from a resoundingly unlikeable path into one of the most unusual and uniquely touching depictions of unexpected tenderness. It opens up so much discussion around the themes of identity, gender norms, acceptance, progress and unconditional love and for a film most famous for one lurid aspect in particular, does it in a contrarily sensitive and emotional way.
The use of colour, music and the sound design are fantastic (I physically had to look away during one scene - and not the one anyone might expect!) And Agathe's and Vincent's acting is really quite exceptional, especially Agathe in such a physically demanding, minimal dialogue role. It's aesthetically dynamic and deliciously French with a weirdly wholesome heartbeat.
Like many films I watch for these clubs (I attend a couple outside of work and co-run one in work) this is 100% not for everyone, but if you can stomach the infamous parts it's a beautiful exploration of living outside of societal norms and finding peace in unexpected places.
Alain Delon (1935 - 2024) in the movie "Plein soleil" (english Titel: "Purple Noon"), 1960, after the novel "The Talented Mr. Ripley" from Patricia Highsmith.
“I wanted to challenge politically the kissing scene, which traditionally either has the surprise kiss scene thanks to a rain shower for instance, or the obvious kiss scene thanks to mustard on the corner of the lips, for instance, and it is generally carefully scripted as ‘They kiss.’ Or ‘They passionately kiss.’ And then it’s on the actors’ shoulders. It seems to rely a lot on them because it’s their bodies and fluids and interaction, but it shouldn’t be. It’s fake. It’s not about finding the magic. Actors should always be part of the elaboration of an idea, especially with intimate scenes. So I wanted to craft a scene that would embody the sexiness of consent. People who are questioning the idea of asking for consent in France, they do exist. They are brave fighters for the culture of French gallantry who say that asking for consent would not be sexy, it will break the mood. Some of the French critics thought the film lacked flesh, precisely because to them eroticism is about conflict. […] At some point I came up with the idea of them having to unveil their mouths like they would undress themselves. So I put a scarf, justified by a strong wind, pressed on their lips and thinking you would see their heavy breathing through the moving cloth.”
Céline Sciamma on creating a new first kiss
À Nos Amours (1983) dir. Maurice Pialat
Breathe (2014) dir. Mélanie Laurent
Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard, 1960)
amélie (2001)
directed by jean-pierre jeunet
🕊️🕊️
R.I.P Alain Delon
Rest in peace to the great Alain Delon 🤍 1935 - 2024, au revoir 🕊️
I wish them have more common projects♥
Gorgeous Romain Duris in "Une nouvelle amie" (2014) dir. François Ozon
Romain Duris' hands as one of the main characters of "Fleuve noir" (2018)
Abel Gance (October 25, 1889—November 10, 1981) made Napoleon (1927), the epic which Kevin Brownlow has described as “the most innovative film ever—even more innovative than Citizen Kane. Practically every sequence has something in it that you’ve never seen before.” This is from the climactic “triptych” scene, where the screen expands to triple width.
oh, what can i do? nothing, my sparrow blue.
