I’d like to analyze the film named Le Sang d’un Poète(1932).
The film focuses on a young poet who is brutally murdered by his rival in pursuit of a woman. Reviews of the film have generally framed its themes in terms of “truth” and “freedom”. But the film has no unified logic or intention. There are often unrealistic and eccentric shapes in the film. For example, the protagonist gazes at the talking mouth in the palm of his hand, and the image of a man being killed and made up of disembodied limbs. Although the director later states that the work is “in opposition to the surrealism prevalent at the time”, in its actuality it has some influence of surrealist cinema and poetry.
The first of French director Jean Cocteau’s most iconic poet trilogy, without a coherent plot, but full of amazingly surreal images. I have completely given up on interpreting this film, everyone will have their own interpretation. Some people say that the most unbearable thing about watching such European masterpieces is that although they are not very understandable, they are fascinating, perhaps some kind of psychological metaphor that one can’t help but be deeply involved in.
The film’s technical innovations and breakthroughs should also be praised by future generations. For example, the mouth attached to the painter’s hand, the men in the room constantly changing costumes. I was most amazed by the moment when the painter rushes into the mirror. Although the technology of the time was almost impossible to do any special effects, the director created a magical visual effect with the cut shots and the water pouncing on the outer edge of the mirror. So it’s good to see these once in a while, at least for inspiration.