When I heard about this movie, I thought about "Sweeney Todd" (2007); however, after watching it, I feel it is more similar in theme to "Soylent Green" (1973), but on a much smaller scale. Both "Soylent Green" and "Delicatessen" are set in a ruined world where nothing grows anymore. Society has changed to adapt to the new envionment. But in both cases there is an individual who does not approve of the new social contract and tries to change it.
I guess the main difference with "Soylent Green" is that in "Delicatessen" everyone except the maintenance man knows what they are eating. Therefore, the revolt is not against a governmet that is hiding something from the people, rather it is a revolution led by the next generation who had no part in designing the social contract. In the end, the skies have cleared and only the members of the next generation -- the butcher's daughter, the maintenance man, and the two boys -- are present to build a new society.
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A interesting view point. I found it odd that there was a suggestion that, based on the clown/Stan's perspective as the film's default "hero" and protagonist, cannibalism was only happening in this neighborhood. But the underground seed hoarders/Troglodistes seem to understand cannibalism is rampant.
ReplyDeletethis film really freaked me out.
ReplyDeleteat the time i felt completely overwhelmed.
stepping back from my emotions, i appreciate the artistic choices that create my emotional reactions.
the lighting, dialog, set design, all contributed to this; amongst many other features.
I really enjoyed the music within this film, to piggy back off this post on Delicatessen and add my own thoughts on the film. What I mean by that is the sex scene where everyone creates music--it's pretty much perfect. Or when the cello and musical saw are played. Music very rarely comes from inside the atmosphere of a film anymore, and it feels like a lot of Western movies in particular just have a 'hip' soundtrack laid on top of some sort of crappy action scene.
ReplyDeleteAmelie has wonderful music that really suits it, and Delicatessen does as well. The soundtrack (or lack thereof) of a film adds so much to ambiance and believability. If someone creates something that I am meant to buy into, something that is meant to draw me in, the sounds employed must be on point and cohesive. Not distracting, not overpowering.
The visuals and creative views with the camera in the film Delicatessen were magnificent as well as its sound. It was nice how the scenes jumped around to all the different characters and what they were doing around the same time. They didn’t keep it focused for long periods of time on just a couple people which kept my interest. Everyone is in their own world with their own issues but all dealing with the issue of famine and poverty. All of the permanent tenants know exactly what is happening in the building at night with the butcher and what he does. They even talk about it with him! One man let him know he could kill his mother in law and set it up by rolling her yarn out the door so she’d go out in the hallway which I felt was absolutely absurd. These people allowed this to happen and didn’t care about anything but themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe underground people added some dark humor to the film. As well as Aurore who made all the crazy contraptions to kill herself and always backfired. I’m sure in reality she could’ve found an easier way! The ending was out of this world and I especially loved how in the end during the credits the filmmaker portrayed all of the characters at their high points.