Jean Renoir
Renoir is perhaps best known for his poetic realist films of the 1930s such as The Rules of the Game (1939) & The Grand Illusion (1937). Poetic realism, like modernism, has many configurations in distinct mediums and time periods, but is most associated with French films of the 1930s. It has been called a stylistic paradigm and a movement. Poetic Realism typically combines working class environments and downbeat story lines with moody (almost noir-like) art direction and lighting to represent contemporary social conditions. Although often referred to as a movement, Poetic Realism was less unified than neorealism. What the poetic realist films had in common is that they attempted to “recreate realism” by shooting in studios using highly stylized visuals. They didn’t approach their subject material using the socio-realist style of the documentary (using non-actors or shooting on location). Poetic realist films often end in disappointment and death. They are poetic because of their attention to aesthetic form. They typically draw attention to representational aspects such as mise-en-scene and cinematography. Poetic Realism would influence Italian Neorealism and the French New Wave directors.
Although Renoir is best known for his poetic realist works of the 1930s, he continued to work into the 1940s and 1950s. His first color film, The River (1951) is about a upper middle-class British family living in India. In an essay on the film, Ian Christie explains that Renoir “rejected the India of exotic action and spectacle to make a meditative, almost mystical film...whose success would launch a new era of portraying India on screen." Multinational, with a cast made mostly of children and amateurs, The River was the first color film for both Jean and his nephew Claude Renoir, the first Technicolor film shot in India, and one of the first films anywhere to record its sound on magnetic tape.
Film scholar Kate Fortmueller explains, "Poetic Realist films often utilize long-takes and deep focus in their photography and these films often feature doomed or anti-heroes in an oppressive environment. Given the importance of topical political subject matter in poetic realist films, it should not be surprising that The Rules of the Game was reviled at its time of release because it was seen as too political. In this sequence the servants are flushing out the animals for the rich people. The rich people can just aim and shoot. What is Renoir saying about war and the role of the aristocracy in war?"
The Rules of the Game (Jean Renoir, 1939):
In class we saw the aristocrats out hunting.
Known for his poetic realist films of the 1930's
The Rules of the Game (39) and The Grand Illusion (37)
POETIC REALISM
Poetic realism, like modernism has many configurations in distinct mediums and time periods
1)It is mostly associated with French films of the 1930's
2)Has been called a stylistic paradigm and movement
3)Typically combines working class environments and downbeat story lines
4)Moody (almost noir-like) art direction and lighting
5)Cinematography used to represent contemporary social conditions.
6) Although called a movement (right above) Poetic Realism was less unified than neorealism.
The films attempted to "recreate realism" by shooting in studios using highly stylized visuals.
Not using socio-realist style of the documentary (non-actors and on location)
7)The films often end in disappointment and death.
8)Are poetic because of their attention to aesthetic form.
9)Draw attention to representational aspects such as Mise-en-scene and cinematography.
Poetic Realism would influence Italian Neorealism and the French New Wave directors.
Renoir in the 1940's-50's
1)1st color film - The River (1951)
About a upper middle-class British family living in India. A dramatization of novel by Rumer
Godden - 1946 of same name.
2)In an essay: Ian Christie explains that Renoir “rejected the India of exotic action and spectacle to make a meditative, almost mystical film...whose success would launch a new era of portraying India on screen."
3)The River was multinational - cast mainly of children and amateurs.
4)Was the first color film for both Jean and his nephew Claude Renoir
5)First Technicolor film shot in India
6)One of first films to record its sound on magnetic tape.
Martin Scorsese talks about The River and how seeing it at 7 years old influenced him. Click Here
Comments now on another film The Rules of the Game (1939)
Film scholar Kate Fortmueller explains, "Poetic Realist films often utilize long-takes and deep focus in their photography and these films often feature doomed or anti-heroes in an oppressive environment. Given the importance of topical political subject matter in poetic realist films, it should not be surprising that The Rules of the Game was reviled at its time of release because it was seen as too political. In this sequence the servants are flushing out the animals for the rich people. The rich people can just aim and shoot. What is Renoir saying about war and the role of the aristocracy in war?"
The Rules of the Game (Jean Renoir, 1939): Film Clip in B&W
Wealthy and well dressed men and women on a hunt in a fancy hunt location.
A guy directing others around.
The servants walking around with sticks scaring the animals out of hiding.
Gossip about someone who got married.
Pictures of rabbits and pheasants - them getting shot - just a massacre.
A horn blows and the servants pick up the corpses.
The Grand Illusion (Jean Renoir, 1937): Film Clip in B&W
Blog Post study of the film Click Here
Teacher's introduction: In the following clip from Renoir's The Grand Illusion, the soldiers detained at the German prison camp listen to the rules of conduct. Notice how Renoir uses a tracking shot to show the expressions of each of the POWs.
I have come for the prisoners. Germany first world war at a prison camp.
They are stating the rules of the behavior including to be well dressed.
Jean Renoir - Introduction to La Grande Illusion - I found on YouTube
Click here to see Introduction
In the following clip from Renoir's The Grand Illusion, the soldiers detained at the German prison camp listen to the rules of conduct. Notice how Renoir uses a tracking shot to show the expressions of each of the POWs.
The Grand Illusion (Jean Renoir, 1937): above is the introduction clip we saw.
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