L’Atalante
„L’Atalante“ is the type of movie that I have only seen on some critics’ favorites list so far, but nowhere else. It seems to be quite an unknown classic, but hey, I have never heard of „Les Valseuses“ anywhere at all. At least L’Atalante is famous among film makers and film buffs. And what a classic it is, according to its Wikipedia article.
Jules, the first mate is my favorite character of the movie: He looks like Popeye so much, his scenes are the funniest and his tattooes are atrocious. XXXD I really think that his and Juliette have the best chemistry together, especially in that scene in which they are both in his room and have fun.
I was so shocked when I recognized the Canal St. Martin. They say that the cinematography and directing of the film is poetic, and the way the Canal St. Martin was shown in the film, even though it was for a few minutes, definitely is. Apart from that, I am not a big fan of poetry, and I wouldn’t actually call the film poetic myself. It’s a movie I don’t really know what it is or how it can be described. Perhaps this is because I have not seen enough movies from that epoch, perhaps it is because „L’Atalante“ truly is an outstanding movie. It makes me think of „The Catcher in the Rye“ a little bit, just like Salinger, Vigo only made one or two movies, and those few catapulted him into the list of the most acclaimed directors, and if it’s only because Truffaut loved his work.
The uniqueness of the film is also reflected in its second main character, played by Dita Parlo. Somehow she looks so entirely different from all other women from that time; she’s so unique I can’t quite judge whether she is a good actress or not. Something about her leaves me speechless. There are erotic pictures of her on the internet, and there must be something about her that inspired Madonna and Dita von Teese although she barely shows any flesh in the movie.
In some ways, the movie makes me think of „Stranger than Paradise“. Juliette is a stranger in Paris and on the Atalante, and the film moves on from one interesting detail to another. Even the soundtrack is lovely, there is one main theme that makes you want to sing along with it, and it even has a few musical elements with people singing. (Of course this is quite unlike „Stranger than Paradise“.) I have even dreamed of the main tune of the film a few times. Furthermore, „L’Atalante“ is so surreal at times that it also reminded me of „Le Chien Andalou“.
Finally, I think it is difficult for me to judge this crème de la crème of the 30’s, except that I actually enjoyed watching this road boat trip movie. I suspect that this is the type of movie that actually becomes better and more enjoyable the more often you see it. And reading some good articles about it seems to help quite a bit too.