Classic International Movie: “Jules et Jim”
October is classic international movies month. Today’s guest post comes from Susan Winchell.
Movie Title: Jules and Jim
Year: 1962
Writers: François Truffaut and Jean Gruault (based on Henri-Pierre Roché’s 1953 semi-autobiographical novel)
Lead Actors: Jeanne Moreau, Oskar Werner, Henri Serre
Director: François Truffaut
IMDb Plot Summary: In Paris, before WWI, two friends, Jules (Austrian) and Jim (French) fall in love with the same woman, Catherine. But Catherine loves and marries Jules. After the war, when they meet again in Germany, Catherine starts to love Jim… This is the story of three people in love, a love that does not affect their friendship, and about how their relationship evolves with the years.
Why I Think This Is A Classic Foreign Movie
It is regarded as a classic of the French New Wave, and is the film that defined youthful exuberance and the freedom bohemian culture for many who have seen since it first came on the scene in the early 60’s. It appears on many lists of best world cinema, and it is reportedly Stephen Hawking’s favorite film.
Jules and Jim won the 1962 Grand Prix of the French film prize Étoile de Cristal and Jeanne Moreau won that year’s prize for best actress.
From Roger Ebert: “Would the film be better as a cumbersome traditional narrative, with all the motives laid out and all the behavior explained? Should Truffaut have dragged a psychiatrist onstage to diagnose Catherine, as his hero Hitchcock did two years earlier for Norman Bates in Psycho (1960)?
“Not at all. Jules and Jim is one of those rare films that knows how fast audiences can think, and how emotions contain their own explanations. It’s about three people who could not concede that their moment of perfect happiness was over, and pursued it into dark and sad places. Galateria quotes Truffaut: ‘I begin a film believing it will be amusing — and along the way I notice that only sadness can save it.”’
My Favorite Moment In The Movie
While the threesome walks along the Seine, the boys talk about various views of women and, fed up, Catherine throws herself into the river. It is a delicious act of defiance (and attention getting) on her part.
My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie
There is a moment outside, after Jim and Catherine begin to acknowledge their mutual attraction, when they are sort of caught by Jules. Jules stands above them on a balcony and recites German verse out loud.
Jules: Translate. Catherine?
Catherine: “Hearts yearning for each other. O God O God. The pain they cause.”
Jules: Not bad. Though “Oh God Oh God” was your addition. Good night. Give my regards to the others if you see them.
Catherine: Would you lend me Goethe’s Elective Affinities tonight?
Jules: I just lent it to Jim.
Catherine: Too bad.
Jim stands by silently while this is going on. Jules then retreats into his room.
I love this dialogue because of the subtext. As I see it Jules is saying “Seeing you two together hurts me.” And Catherine is basically responding, unapologetically, “The heart wants what the heart wants.” And Jules, in effect, surrenders. (According to Wikipedia, Goethe’s Elective Affinities is a novel about the chemical attraction between two people, and ponders whether this hurts marriages.)
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie
Truffaut uses a variety of cinematic techniques, including newsreel footage, photographic stills, panning shots, wipes, superimpositions, freeze frame, dolly shots, and voice over.
There are several women introduced in the film who provide a striking contrast to the mercurial Catherine, including the motor-mouth free spirit Therese, and the patient and worn Gilberte.
Ponder the fact that this story takes place in approximately the same time period as Downton Abbey.
Watch your reactions and emotions. I found this film raised a wild torrent of mixed emotions in me. Do you believe two men can share one woman so unselfishly? Is this an ideal? Or a fantasy? Do you like or admire Catherine prior to the end?
Thanks, Susan!
To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
We already have a set of classic 30s movies, 40s movies, 5os movies, 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on classic international movies. And thanks to the GITS community, we’ve got at least 22 movies in the works and hopefully more!
Those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts. If you haven’t sent yours to me, please do so as soon as you can!!!
3 Idiots — Abhinav Tiwari
A Prophet — Paul Graunke
Akira — Clay Mitchell
Amarcord — Norma Parena
Amelie — Kevin Curran
Belle Epoque — Melinda Mahaffey
Cinema Paradiso — Traci Nell Peterson
Diabolique — Sherin Nicole
Jules et Jim — Susan Winchell
Kolya — Melinda Mahaffey
Lady Vengeance — David Joyner
Millennium Actress — Chris Neumann
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies — John Henderson
Reprise — Wally Marzano-Lesnevich
Seven Samurai — Will King
The Lives of Others — Paul Graunke
The Tenant — Marija Nielsen
This Man Must Die — Marija Nielsen
Y Tu Mama Tambien — Georgina Hutchinson
NOTE: Need 1 more volunteer to round out the monthly series!!!