Class Minutes for June 18, 2002

Class began with the announcement that if we want to be able to re-write our final paper we will have to turn in the first copy on Thursday the 20^th. He stressed to be more analytical and less opinionated.

We then began to review the questions for the movie Black Orpheus.

1. How does Marcel Camus transfer the myth into the film?

-With the names used. He used the same names used in the myth for his

   main characters.

-The carnival setting, which allowed us to separate fantasy from reality.

  The way people behave in carnivals is not their everyday behavior.

2. What role does the Carnival play in the film?

-It creates a sense of possibility on the fact that a myth can actually happen on the real world we live in.

-The carnival also allows us to believe in what in other ways we would not believe in.

-Students also mention that the setting made it easier for death to sneak around with all the commotion of the carnival. In addition, it allows us to get in the Greek state of mind (Greek relation with myths).

3. Describe Camus’s use of colors.

-He used the carnival colors, green, yellow, and gold, through out the whole movie as an indication of the world we are in at the time (mythological or real).

-One of the students also mention the girl with the bright purple dress when the rest of them where dressed in white. This makes her stand out more, like a goddess.

-The colors are also a representation of the carnival.

4. Describe Camus’s use of music.

-He basically used two different rhythms, the carnival Brazilian rhythm and the Orpheous myth singing rhythm.

-The carnival Brazilian rhythm could be interpreted as a representation of the irrationality of the carnival (people not acting in their normal ways).

-The Orpheous myth singing rhythm could be interpreted as a representation of the rationality of his singing.

The professor held off on answering questions 5 and 6, but he quickly asked about 6 and suggested What Dreams May Come  as a movie with the some what the same theme.

Next the class watched Kieslowski’s Blue

            The movie is about a woman name Julie that losses her husband, who was a famous music composer, and her daughter in a car accident. Julia decides to sell everything and move to start a new life with no memories from the past. She avoids everything that will make her have to cope with her grief. She tries to get rid of all of her husband’s late compositions but one of them keeps appearing in her life, forcing her to face her sorrow.

            The music is presented through out the entire movie, especially before the director goes into a black out of the movie. The music is  classical and mournful in nature and in some instances we hear a chorus. The color blue was also presented through out the whole movie in many articles. It is especially strong in the close shots to her face as she thinks, allowing us to feel her sorrow.

            At the end Julie decides to help on the finishing of her dead husband’s last composition and she is able to cry finally. She had not cried since the incident. This suggests she is finally coping with her loss at the same time that she is building her new life.