Post by klep on Jun 27, 2016 6:42:37 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 6/27: The Young Girls of Rochefort
FOURTH WEEK OF MUSICALS MONTH
Jacques Demy is responsible for some of the best musicals ever made. We've already covered his best, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, but it's appropriate that we're getting to cover another great one (and a second film with Gene Kelley) before we leave Musicals Month behind (for now!). The Umbrellas of Cherbourg was primarily a melancholy affair. It ends well enough for all involved, but with a definite wistfullness about what could have been. It's phenomenal, but definitely written in a minor key.
The Young Girls of Rochefort is instead an almost entirely joyous affair. It's brightly colored, vibrant, and fun. Rather than just singing through the dialog as Cherbourg did, Rochefort is full of discrete musical numbers both serving narrative/character purposes and just for the fun of it. Multiple scenes are devoted to characters joyously dancing down the street as the townsfolk dance with and around them. This is a world where people just break into song because they can barely contain the joy in their hearts. Even the yearning songs contain a sense that finding fulfillment is only a question of when, not if. Rochefort's lonely hearts are all certain that one day they will find their love, or it will find them, even if at the moment they don't know how that will happen.
The film is, in essence, a tale of missed connections finding themselves. It's easy to see the pieces coming together from the very beginning, and Demy for the most part isn't interested in holding out on us. He does give us one final tease near the end - a rare moment of melancholy - but that just serves to make the final ending all the sweeter. It's a film without much in the way of antagonists - pretty much just an ex-boyfriend who doesn't understand what a breakup means. Demy is here to give us a good time, a confection, and that's no mark against him or the film. It's hard to imagine watching The Young Girls of Rochefort and not getting to the end feeling better about both yourself and the world. It will all work out in the end, Demy tells us, so why not just enjoy the ride?
I specifically used the word 'antagonist' because the film really does have an additional villain. As a bit of black humor Demy throws in a sadistic killer who also finds his missed connection after 40 years - and cuts her to pieces to leave in a basket. I find this aside a bit jarring and a little out of place each time I watch the film. Do you guys see it serving a particular purpose? Is it a misstep on Demy's part?
Also, as always please talk about your favorite musical numbers from the film. There's lots of great dancing and great singing to choose from (even if the singing is overdubbed)!
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 7/4: Breaking the Waves
Alas this is the last week of Musicals Month, and we must move on. In what will be the first Movie of the Week for Lars von Trier, our next movie of the week is his Grand Prix-winning film Breaking the Waves, about a woman struggling with her morals and sexuality after her husband is paralyzed in a tragic accident. Breaking the Waves is available on Hulu Plus and for rent on Amazon Instant Video, though it is not free for Prime members. Jacob Roth will also be streaming it on the Dissolve Couch on Monday, assuming the holiday doesn't get in the way.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 6/28: Memento
In an inspired pairing about the complications faced by people with poor memories, next week's Next Picture Show Podcast covers the new Pixar film Finding Dory with this inventively structured early Christopher Nolan film. Unfortunately Memento does not seem to be streaming anywhere.
AND DON'T FORGET
Jacob Rothe will be streaming this week's Movie of the Week, The Young Girls of Rochefort tonight on The Dissolve Couch!
FOURTH WEEK OF MUSICALS MONTH
Jacques Demy is responsible for some of the best musicals ever made. We've already covered his best, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, but it's appropriate that we're getting to cover another great one (and a second film with Gene Kelley) before we leave Musicals Month behind (for now!). The Umbrellas of Cherbourg was primarily a melancholy affair. It ends well enough for all involved, but with a definite wistfullness about what could have been. It's phenomenal, but definitely written in a minor key.
The Young Girls of Rochefort is instead an almost entirely joyous affair. It's brightly colored, vibrant, and fun. Rather than just singing through the dialog as Cherbourg did, Rochefort is full of discrete musical numbers both serving narrative/character purposes and just for the fun of it. Multiple scenes are devoted to characters joyously dancing down the street as the townsfolk dance with and around them. This is a world where people just break into song because they can barely contain the joy in their hearts. Even the yearning songs contain a sense that finding fulfillment is only a question of when, not if. Rochefort's lonely hearts are all certain that one day they will find their love, or it will find them, even if at the moment they don't know how that will happen.
The film is, in essence, a tale of missed connections finding themselves. It's easy to see the pieces coming together from the very beginning, and Demy for the most part isn't interested in holding out on us. He does give us one final tease near the end - a rare moment of melancholy - but that just serves to make the final ending all the sweeter. It's a film without much in the way of antagonists - pretty much just an ex-boyfriend who doesn't understand what a breakup means. Demy is here to give us a good time, a confection, and that's no mark against him or the film. It's hard to imagine watching The Young Girls of Rochefort and not getting to the end feeling better about both yourself and the world. It will all work out in the end, Demy tells us, so why not just enjoy the ride?
I specifically used the word 'antagonist' because the film really does have an additional villain. As a bit of black humor Demy throws in a sadistic killer who also finds his missed connection after 40 years - and cuts her to pieces to leave in a basket. I find this aside a bit jarring and a little out of place each time I watch the film. Do you guys see it serving a particular purpose? Is it a misstep on Demy's part?
Also, as always please talk about your favorite musical numbers from the film. There's lots of great dancing and great singing to choose from (even if the singing is overdubbed)!
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 7/4: Breaking the Waves
Alas this is the last week of Musicals Month, and we must move on. In what will be the first Movie of the Week for Lars von Trier, our next movie of the week is his Grand Prix-winning film Breaking the Waves, about a woman struggling with her morals and sexuality after her husband is paralyzed in a tragic accident. Breaking the Waves is available on Hulu Plus and for rent on Amazon Instant Video, though it is not free for Prime members. Jacob Roth will also be streaming it on the Dissolve Couch on Monday, assuming the holiday doesn't get in the way.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 6/28: Memento
In an inspired pairing about the complications faced by people with poor memories, next week's Next Picture Show Podcast covers the new Pixar film Finding Dory with this inventively structured early Christopher Nolan film. Unfortunately Memento does not seem to be streaming anywhere.
AND DON'T FORGET
Jacob Rothe will be streaming this week's Movie of the Week, The Young Girls of Rochefort tonight on The Dissolve Couch!