[The Metalhead]

It's been too long since I've seen it (and since then, I've even bought the Criterion), but Double Life is a splendid film. I think it's my favourite Kieslowski and it certainly has a spot in my top hundred, as well as having a place among my favourites from Polish cinema.

Anywho, I approve of your rating!

[Ritter Red]

Originally Posted by traboule

The Double Life of Veronique / La Double Vie de Veronique
(1991, Irene Jacob, Dir. Krzysztof Kieslowski)
Recommended by Cunning Linguist, dreiser900, Truth is Good





9.5/10

It's one of my few, rare perfect scores. I have a review somewhere in my journal, if you're interested; I don't believe I say much more than gah-gah, isn't this stunning...but, it's there...somewhere.
I really see no need to have preferences with Kieslowski's films. They're all golden moments for me. As always, nice write-up.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by RitterRed

It's one of my few, rare perfect scores. I have a review somewhere in my journal, if you're interested; I don't believe I say much more than gah-gah, isn't this stunning...but, it's there...somewhere.
I really see no need to have preferences with Kieslowski's films. They're all golden moments for me. As always, nice write-up.

Thanks! Just found and read your review. I like your description of Slawomir's cinematography. You're right on to quote Kieslowski's statement about how labeling the themes is silly. In my review, I keep mumbling on about mystery and connection and they seem like weak words to apply to the film. To throw in another Hejinian quote:
"If reality is trying to express itself in words it is certainly taking the long way around."

Also, Andie MacDowell?! Whew, I'm glad that didn't work out.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by dreiser900

Yes! Excellent insights into one of my favorite movies, traboule.

The wonderful business w/ the Whammo ball is just beautiful to watch. Weronika is such a tactile person, full of mischief and so fetching. The movie had me from the beginning when she continues to sing w/ abandon despite the rain coming down. I thought the clever way that Kieslowski used a swinging camera to show Weronika's passing out on stage from her own POV was brilliant.

I can't help but give it a 10/10 myself. After all, it's in my list of all-time top 20 favorites.

Now I gotta re-read my own review to see if I missed anything you brought up.

BTW --- good point about the academic commentary. I was fearful of some dry discourse and was overcome by the lady's pure love for this film.

Irene Jacob did such a good job of differentiating the two women with her performance. But it's not like how mainstream Hollywood would do it, which would have the two people be like night and day, with screaming obviousness.

I usually don't give out 10's unless I've seen the movie more than once, just to confirm it can hold up to repeat viewings. I couldn't help myself with Cleo from 5 to 7 though.

If you have anything else to add about the film, please do. Definitely a film that deserves a good discussion.

[Hank_Venture]

I just thought about it... I haven't actually posted in this thread yet.

Not out of the lack of enjoyment... quite the contrary; I've enjoyed it very much. I guess that everyone (esp. traboule) has been doing such a nice job with this thread, I've been able to just sit back, relax, and just read.

[dreiser]

Originally Posted by traboule

Irene Jacob did such a good job of differentiating the two women with her performance. But it's not like how mainstream Hollywood would do it, which would have the two people be like night and day, with screaming obviousness.

That's it just subtle differences. They both love music which one pursues w/ reckless abandon while the other, who recognizes her frailty, chooses the more modest profession of music teacher. Also, Weronika is much more tactile i.e. rejoicing in the feel of dust and rain on her face.


I usually don't give out 10's unless I've seen the movie more than once, just to confirm it can hold up to repeat viewings. I couldn't help myself with Cleo from 5 to 7 though.

I've seen it several times so I understand your point.


If you have anything else to add about the film, please do. Definitely a film that deserves a good discussion.

Will do.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by Tom o' Bedlam

It's the only Kieslowki I've seen so far and I like it, especially the whole "mood" and the subtle surreality of the film, just not as much as you did, but maybe I'll need to rewatch it, it's been some years since I saw it and it was an old VHS tape.

Anyway great and insightful review, made me want to watch this film again.

Thanks! if you do watch it again, let me know how it was the second time around.

Originally Posted by The Metalhead

It's been too long since I've seen it (and since then, I've even bought the Criterion), but Double Life is a splendid film. I think it's my favourite Kieslowski and it certainly has a spot in my top hundred, as well as having a place among my favourites from Polish cinema.

Anywho, I approve of your rating!

From these comments, it does seem like it makes it to several posters' favorites. Too early to say for me and I'm not sure I really have a solid list of favorites at this point.

So is this considered Polish cinema? I knew Kieslowski was from Poland, but don't know his biographical details to know how and when he became also associated with France.

Originally Posted by Hank_Venture

I just thought about it... I haven't actually posted in this thread yet.

Not out of the lack of enjoyment... quite the contrary; I've enjoyed it very much. I guess that everyone (esp. traboule) has been doing such a nice job with this thread, I've been able to just sit back, relax, and just read.

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad you are enjoying it. I'm glad I picked this thread back up after putting it on hiatus for a while. It's been a lot of fun watching and reviewing these films.

Children of Paradise just arrived today - probably will watch it tomorrow.

[The Metalhead]

Originally Posted by traboule

So is this considered Polish cinema? I knew Kieslowski was from Poland, but don't know his biographical details to know how and when he became also associated with France.

I don't think this film is as black-and-white as Polish or French, but I'd give the edge to Kieślowski's heritage as the basis for 'where the film is from', keeping in mind that part of the film is also shot in Poland as well. I believe that he found the Romanian-born Marin Karmitz (though, he lived in France) and French investors to finance his films in the '90s, which explains why he gradually moved filming to Western Europe (though, Poland was never out of the picture, so to speak).

[Ritter Red]

Originally Posted by traboule

Also, Andie MacDowell?! Whew, I'm glad that didn't work out.

I'm not a MacDowell hater the way most are on these boards. I think she's as capable in the roles she's chosen as anyone. She's smart in her selections, taking mostly rom-com's, and she's very good with that genre. But, yeah, this was a blessing. Jacob so totally owns that role, I can't imagine anyone else. Yet, it's surprsing how Kieslowski seemed to lament not having MacDowell. It's a bit like Jeunet wanting Emily Watson for Amelie. I understand why he thought she would be right, but I simply don't think she would have been; and Audrey Tautou is fabulous. In both instances, the director's first choice was not the right one.

[dreiser]

Originally Posted by traboule

Also, Andie MacDowell?! Whew, I'm glad that didn't work out.

Thank christ Kieslowski's brain cramp didn't come to fruition. I'm not a big MacDowell fan but there's no doubt that several of her movies have been a success despite her lack of discernible talent: Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Groundhog Day, Four Weddings and a Funeral, to name a few. The Polish director must have been blown away by her beauty and figured he could get a performance out of her. He sure must not have seen many of her movies.

Irene Jacob was pure gold in this film. She won Best Actress @ Canne for this role and I'm surprised she hasn't had a better career.

[traboule]

midday bump

[traboule]

Children of Paradise / Les Enfants du Paradis
(1945, Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Dir. Marcel Carne)
Recommended by Albert Markovski, mail4jackie, Jyan and A Devastator.



Children of Paradise is the second film by Marcel Carne that I've seen, the first being the wonderful Port of Shadows (La Quai des brumes). Both films benefit from the excellent writing of Jacques Prevert, whose poetic dialogue elevates both films. This is not to say that all the dialogue is serious and pretty - Prevert can handle banter and humor as well as he handles a beautiful metaphor.

Children of Paradise takes place in a theater / sideshow district of mid 19th century Paris, the Boulevard of Crime. The film is lively with crowds and performances, its characters are actors, mimes, and criminals. The characters are all well-defined, reminiscent of a Dickensian panoply of people in its focus on the poor lower classes and on individual's philosophies of life.



The woman at the center of the film, Garance, is pursued by four men throughout the film, in their different ways. There's the ardent mime, Baptiste; the aspiring actor, Frederick; the well-dressed thief and murderer, Lacenaire; and the would-be rich protector, Count Eduoard. Garance is played by Arletty, and though I found it distracting that the film kept trying to paint the roughly 40 years old Arletty as a young stunning beauty, she captures the worldly wise, survivalist ways of her character well.

I loved the character of Frederick (played by Pierre Brasseur) in particular, a light-hearted chap, who in the second half of the film shows his disdain for the play he is in, by suddenly satirizing it during the performance, and even breaking the fourth wall, by referring to the play and to the authors of the play in his dialogue.

I also liked the character of Nathalie, who is devoted to Baptiste and persists, perhaps foolishly, in thinking that Baptiste will eventually come to love her. I like how Nathalie fiercely fights for him. Frederick and Nathalie are just two examples of the finely formed characters contained within Children of Paradise.



The film is also an ode to the thrill and pleasures of theater. The title, also translated as the Children of the Gods, refers to the audience that sits up in what we would call the 'nosebleed' seats in the theater, those that paid the cheapest price and now sit up high with the "gods". The actors and actresses of the film regard this audience fondly, and find much pleasure in entertaining them, even as they're embroiled in their own tragedies and farces.

It's amazing that the film was made during the Nazi occuption of France and that Resistance fighters were harbored among the film's crew.

This three-hour film really flew by for me. They really don't make them like this anymore.

9/10

[dreiser]

I have not seen Children of Paradise though I really want to.

Your av change agrees w/ you. I predict a 10/10 rating from you some day for Veronique. It only gets better the more I see it.

[The Metalhead]

It's taking all my willpower not to switch to this AV:


Boy, I sure love Children of Paradise. There's no doubt in my mind that it's a top-twenty kind of movie. I'm very glad that you liked it.

Here's my review:
Children of Paradise

[traboule]

Originally Posted by dreiser900

I have not seen Children of Paradise though I really want to.

Your av change agrees w/ you. I predict a 10/10 rating from you some day for Veronique. It only gets better the more I see it.

I'm enjoying the new av and yes, I suspect that Veronique could be a 10/10 on a second watch. When does Deep Discount usually have a sale on Criterions, I wonder . . .

Originally Posted by The Metalhead

It's taking all my willpower not to switch to this AV:


Boy, I sure love Children of Paradise. There's no doubt in my mind that it's a top-twenty kind of movie. I'm very glad that you liked it.

Here's my review:
Children of Paradise

Veronique has such lovely imagery that I don't blame you for being tempted.

I remembered reading your review of Children of Paradise before seeing the film, so before I wrote my review, I had to remember whose journal thread I'd seen that review in, find it and re-read it. It's a great review.

Question for you - you mention the allegorical level to Children of Paradise. As this was my first time watching the film, I didn't try too hard to discover the allegorical layer of meaning, but I'm curious as to your interpretation of it.

[The Metalhead]

Originally Posted by traboule

Question for you - you mention the allegorical level to Children of Paradise. As this was my first time watching the film, I didn't try too hard to discover the allegorical layer of meaning, but I'm curious as to your interpretation of it.

I believe I was referring to Baptiste's plays, in a symbolic fashion, acting as a gateway into his suppressed feelings. Rather, and somewhat ironically, Baptiste has a deep character flaw that bottles up all his negative emotion towards unfavorable circumstances, and reveals this emotion through the different material that he writes and acts in (and once, he even bursts into a fit of rage).

[traboule]

Originally Posted by The Metalhead

I believe I was referring to Baptiste's plays, in a symbolic fashion, acting as a gateway into his suppressed feelings. Rather, and somewhat ironically, Baptiste has a deep character flaw that bottles up all his negative emotion towards unfavorable circumstances, and reveals this emotion through the different material that he writes and acts in (and once, he even bursts into a fit of rage).

Oh yes, I did catch that, esp. when Garance comments on how cruel Baptiste looks at the end of his play, The Ragman.

Netflix's description implied that the film also allegorized occupied France, but I didn't know whether to trust that, since the Netflix descriptions aren't always the most reliable in capturing what a film is about.

[The Metalhead]

Originally Posted by traboule

Oh yes, I did catch that, esp. when Garance comments on how cruel Baptiste looks at the end of his play, The Ragman.

Netflix's description implied that the film also allegorized occupied France, but I didn't know whether to trust that, since the Netflix descriptions aren't always the most reliable in capturing what a film is about.

I didn't catch any allegories that aren't nested in the film (i.e. about the occupation), but it's possible. Maybe there's a tidbit in Ebert's review, which I remember being especially informative.

[YouTookMyName]

Originally Posted by traboule

Children of Paradise / Les Enfants du Paradis
(1945, Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Dir. Michel Carne)
Recommended by Albert Markovski, mail4jackie, Jyan and A Devastator.



Children of Paradise is the second film by Michel Carne that I've seen, the first being the wonderful Port of Shadows (La Quai des brumes). Both films benefit from the excellent writing of Jacques Prevert, whose poetic dialogue elevates both films. This is not to say that all the dialogue is serious and pretty - Prevert can handle banter and humor as well as he handles a beautiful metaphor.

Children of Paradise takes place in a theater / sideshow district of mid 19th century Paris, the Boulevard of Crime. The film is lively with crowds and performances, its characters are actors, mimes, and criminals. The characters are all well-defined, reminiscent of a Dickensian panoply of people in its focus on the poor lower classes and on individual's philosophies of life.



The woman at the center of the film, Garance, is pursued by four men throughout the film, in their different ways. There's the ardent mime, Baptiste; the aspiring actor, Frederick; the well-dressed thief and murderer, Lacenaire; and the would-be rich protector, Count Eduoard. Garance is played by Arletty, and though I found it distracting that the film kept trying to paint the roughly 40 years old Arletty as a young stunning beauty, she captures the worldly wise, survivalist ways of her character well.

I loved the character of Frederick (played by Pierre Brasseur) in particular, a light-hearted chap, who in the second half of the film shows his disdain for the play he is in, by suddenly satirizing it during the performance, and even breaking the fourth wall, by referring to the play and to the authors of the play in his dialogue.

I also liked the character of Nathalie, who is devoted to Baptiste and persists, perhaps foolishly, in thinking that Baptiste will eventually come to love her. I like how Nathalie fiercely fights for him. Frederick and Nathalie are just two examples of the finely formed characters contained within Children of Paradise.



The film is also an ode to the thrill and pleasures of theater. The title, also translated as the Children of the Gods, refers to the audience that sits up in what we would call the 'nosebleed' seats in the theater, those that paid the cheapest price and now sit up high with the "gods". The actors and actresses of the film regard this audience fondly, and find much pleasure in entertaining them, even as they're embroiled in their own tragedies and farces.

It's amazing that the film was made during the Nazi occuption of France and that Resistance fighters were harbored among the film's crew.

This three-hour film really flew by for me. They really don't make them like this anymore.

9/10

I've actually seen this one, trab! I agree that it's a good movie. In some ways it was quite visually sophisticated for its time --at least I thought so.

If you're curious, here is my brief write up from last summer. Unfortunately, it's split into two parts, and the first part includes my thoughts on Juliet of the Spirits (not French, as you know!).

Juliet of the Spirits and Children of Paradise: Part One

Children of Paradise: Part Two

Ha ha! I have to post this before I can read what I wrote back then. (edit My interests were not at all what yours were. I seem to have been enamored of the technical merits of the film and the way Criterion cleaned it up for the DVD. But at the time I believed it to be of great quality, and a good film on all counts. That includes all the character and plot issues that you dealt with so well in your post.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by YouTookMyName

I've actually seen this one, trab! I agree that it's a good movie. In some ways it was quite visually sophisticated for its time --at least I thought so.

If you're curious, here is my brief write up from last summer. Unfortunately, it's split into two parts, and the first part includes my thoughts on Juliet of the Spirits (not French, as you know!).

Juliet of the Spirits and Children of Paradise: Part One

Children of Paradise: Part Two

Ha ha! I have to post this before I can read what I wrote back then. (edit My interests were not at all what yours were. I seem to have been enamored of the technical merits of the film and the way Criterion cleaned it up for the DVD. But at the time I believed it to be of great quality, and a good film on all counts. That includes all the character and plot issues that you dealt with so well in your post.

well, I'm glad you found one that you've seen. Children of Paradise is a great-looking film. You refer briefly to the fines in your review - which was a great, humorous detail of the film that I enjoyed. "Who sounded the thunder?"

By the way, for you or for anyone else interested, I just put an index to my reviews in the first post of this thread.

[Ritter Red]

Originally Posted by traboule

By the way, for you or for anyone else interested, I just put an index to my reviews in the first post of this thread.

Good idea. (It's Marcel, by the way.) I can't add much to the conversation except to say that I, too, had problems with Arletty...at first. She won me over quickly enough. I suspect one could deconstruct the film's themes along the lines of spoken versus unspoken performances; i.e., the mime theme that does seem to play a major factor both obviously and more subtlely. Again, it's been too long since I've seen it for me to go into it with any energy, and I haven't seen the Criterion edition. I saw it on VHS. Nonetheless, I couldn't move while watching it, I was so absorbed in its story and the way in which it was told.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by RitterRed

Good idea. (It's Marcel, by the way.) I can't add much to the conversation except to say that I, too, had problems with Arletty...at first. She won me over quickly enough. I suspect one could deconstruct the film's themes along the lines of spoken versus unspoken performances; i.e., the mime theme that does seem to play a major factor both obviously and more subtlely. Again, it's been too long since I've seen it for me to go into it with any energy, and I haven't seen the Criterion edition. I saw it on VHS. Nonetheless, I couldn't move while watching it, I was so absorbed in its story and the way in which it was told.

Oops, fixed!

I think Children of Paradise would be a good film to critically analyze - it does seem to have several themes running through it. There's Frederick's love for the play Othello - he refers to Garance as Desdemona several times.

Also, befitting a film about theater, it does seem that the set pieces and where the characters place themselves on the set could have meaning as well. For instance, two of the times that Nathalie realizes that Baptiste really loves Garance are on the pantomime stage and it moves her to talk where talking is not allowed. Perhaps since Baptiste often reveals his true feelings through his plays, it's there that Nathalie (and others) can see what he truly wants and feels.

For better analysis of course a repeat viewing would be in order.

[traboule]

bump

[dreiser]

Originally Posted by The Metalhead

It's taking all my willpower not to switch to this AV:

No kidding. I would want that one or the shot of her getting dust in the face. However, I have sworn an allegiance to always display the SFenn banner.

[traboule]

Les Diaboliques / The Devils
(1955, Simone Signoret, Vera Clouzot, Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot)
Recommended by ThisGoesToEleven, Philosophe rouge, JediMoonShyne



So on Valentine's Day I give you a review of a film where the wife and mistress of one man plot together to kill him. Michel Delassalle (Paul Meurisse, Army of Shadows) is an ugly tyrant of a man and the principal of a boys' boarding school. His wife, Christina (played by Clouzot's wife, Vera) and mistress Nicole (Signoret) both teach at this school and he treats his wife horridly and mistreats his mistress as well. Early in the film, they enter into an agreement to murder Michel and make it look like an accident.

The relationship between the two is defined by a continual power play. Nicole is the cool, collected one for the most part, while Christina, whose heart condition renders her more frail to begin with, is plagued by worry and guilt. Nicole is impatient with Christina's hesitations, and Christina is terrified of the ease in which Nicole carries out their plan. When something unexpected happens during their plans, the already tenuous and fraying partnership is strained even more.

It was great to see Vera Clouzot's performance in this film, as she had only a supporting part in Wages of Fear. Her character's waves of doubt and then resolve are captured well. Signoret's understated performance is a nice counterpoint.

Clouzot is terrific at building up suspense and the film builds and builds until the final intense sequence, where the opening and shutting of doors and the turning on and off of lights in a sinister sequence of scenes had me glued to the screen.

8.5/10

[Hank_Venture]

Originally Posted by traboule

Les Diaboliques / The Devils
(1955, Simone Signoret, Vera Clouzot, Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot)
Recommended by ThisGoesToEleven, Philosophe rouge, JediMoonShyne

You've officially made me bump this film up on my 'to see' list.

[Ritter Red]

Originally Posted by traboule

Les Diaboliques / The Devils
(1955, Simone Signoret, Vera Clouzot, Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot)
Recommended by ThisGoesToEleven

Sure wish he'd come back. A bright kid.

So on Valentine's Day I give you a review of a film where the wife and mistress of one man plot together to kill him. Michel Delassalle (Paul Meurisse, Army of Shadows)...

Have you seen the Melville film? Surprisingly engaging. I had expected it to be a chore, though I don't know why. I've liked every Melville film I've seen.

Anyhow, this is one I've not seen. I watched the remake, which was pretty darned limp despite having an excellent cast. Yeah, I know. I need to see this one.

[traboule]

Originally Posted by RitterRed

Sure wish he'd come back. A bright kid.

Have you seen the Melville film? Surprisingly engaging. I had expected it to be a chore, though I don't know why. I've liked every Melville film I've seen.
Anyhow, this is one I've not seen. I watched the remake, which was pretty darned limp despite having an excellent cast. Yeah, I know. I need to see this one.

TGTE is not around anymore?

Of the two Clouzot films I've seen I slightly prefer Wages of Fear. I found the premise of four guys transporting nitroglycerine created more moments of nail-biting suspense for me than the suspense thread of Les Diaboliques. That said, the final sequence of Les Diaboliques really knocks it out of the park and elevates the whole film. So I wouldn't ask anyone to choose just one or the other - watch both!

As for Army of Shadows, see the first page of this thread.

[Ritter Red]

Originally Posted by traboule

TGTE is not around anymore?

He's been gone awhile now. I'm pretty sure he left because of Paid Philosopher. Apparently the latter took issue with TGTE for reasons unknown to me.

Of the two Clouzot films I've seen I slightly prefer Wages of Fear.

Yeah, I loved Wages of Fear. Have you seen the remake by Friedkin, Sorcerer? I recommend that one, as well.

As for Army of Shadows, see the first page of this thread.

Short-term memory. I'll revisit the front page.

[traboule]

So, with the last two films from my original list of French films coming this weekend, it's time to start generating round two.

Here are the films I'm thinking about watching:

Baxter
Elevator to the Gallows
La Femme Nikita
Forbidden Games
The Intruder
Jean de Florette and Manon de Spring
Jules et Jim
Kings and Queen
Lady Chatterley
The Red Balloon
Summer
Taste of Others
Touchez Pas du Grisbi
Under the Sand
White


Comments? Suggestions for other movies I should consider?