It took a long time for me to get around to seeing Jacques Demy's Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). The bright colours and musical concept just didn't appeal looking far too optimistic for my liking, but it is a perfect gem and as surprising as a butterfly with the weight of a brick.
With music from Michel LeGrand and dialogue/lyrics from Jacques Demy, the film flows effortlessly. My favourite scene in question is the ultimate and being the final scene, I don't wish to spoil proceedings aside from saying that every detail in the film supports it as if the entire narrative were a pyramid and at its' apex stands this scene.
If you have yet to see this film, it is essential viewing and I recommend avoiding background research as everything I have found has focused on the scene with which I reference. It's been years since I've seen this film, but it still lingers.
Here is the original trailer:
5 comments:
I love those trains in the old gare...
Since I know you like Serge and since you've just posted about Catherine, you might enjoy this if you've never seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDd7z9cfCgM
That was good. Thank you. Did you see Serge with Whitney Houston? And I have a ton of SG cassette tapes from our trip all those years ago.
Really? How did you get onto him? I don't think I had really discovered him at that point. Maybe it was through your host family?
I think I have seen the Whitney Houston event...
I went to FNAC at Les Halles with Carla and her "host sister" who helped me find music I would like. I recall playing "Je t'aime, moi non plus" to the horror of my mum. She also gave me more Gainsbourg as a going-away gift.
Recently, I was given the complete DVD collection of Jacques Brel performances. I've still not found the time to go through it all.
I was more into Jacques Brel at that point. Technology was a big barrier at that time. I was pretty much limited to music that French contacts gave to me on audio cassettes! Hard to imagine now...
Serge is a favorite of my husband's and mine too. I also listen a lot to Michel Polnareff and Charles Trenet. I think I overdosed on my former favorites, Brel and Renaud.
I actually listen a lot more to American and British music...
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