Captain of a barge with the titled name, marries a young provincial girl and travels the waterways of France. Times are rough and life is not what she expected and after a rough patch she runs off. Eventually the pair are reunited to presumably live happily ever after.
First feature and final film by Jean Vigo who died not long after the films release. Its hailed as one of the great films of all time in various polls, and I for one am left to ponder why. Certainly I have my beef with any number of the "classics" of cinema, but more times than not I can walk away from the film and at least understand why someone would argue that say Citizen Kane is great film, even if I don't feel that way. Here I'm completely at a loss to explain why it's a great film. I suppose its all due to how someone connects or doesn't connect with the romance. I never really connected since I never saw what either person saw in the other. Okay yes I'm coming from a different time and place and how I look at romance and even relationships that become marriage is different but beyond that I saw nothing. For me there was too much to take on faith.
This isn't to say that L'atalante is a bad film, it's not, actually it's a good one, its just not a great one. If there is anything that is great about the film it's the photography. Shot on location on the barrage and the environs around it this film shows beautifully a time and a place. I love how the film looks and how it makes you feel how that you are there.
Is this worth seeing? Yes. I don't think it's a bad film, and if you strip away the useless and uncalled for baggage of this being one of the greatest films of all time its an enjoyable one. See it for itself and you'll have a good time, bringing anything else to the table will only serve to disappoint you.
First feature and final film by Jean Vigo who died not long after the films release. Its hailed as one of the great films of all time in various polls, and I for one am left to ponder why. Certainly I have my beef with any number of the "classics" of cinema, but more times than not I can walk away from the film and at least understand why someone would argue that say Citizen Kane is great film, even if I don't feel that way. Here I'm completely at a loss to explain why it's a great film. I suppose its all due to how someone connects or doesn't connect with the romance. I never really connected since I never saw what either person saw in the other. Okay yes I'm coming from a different time and place and how I look at romance and even relationships that become marriage is different but beyond that I saw nothing. For me there was too much to take on faith.
This isn't to say that L'atalante is a bad film, it's not, actually it's a good one, its just not a great one. If there is anything that is great about the film it's the photography. Shot on location on the barrage and the environs around it this film shows beautifully a time and a place. I love how the film looks and how it makes you feel how that you are there.
Is this worth seeing? Yes. I don't think it's a bad film, and if you strip away the useless and uncalled for baggage of this being one of the greatest films of all time its an enjoyable one. See it for itself and you'll have a good time, bringing anything else to the table will only serve to disappoint you.