The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
1964
Directed by Jacques Demy
Happy New Year's Eve everyone! I plan on partying hard tonight (i.e. eating lots of cake). Stay safe!
I have a slight problem with musicals that are sung from start to finish. There tends to be a lot of dead time and sometimes, especially when people are speaking very quickly to each other, it just sounds ridiculous. Les Miserables has the same problem but there are tons of large scale numbers, like I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, or A Heart Full of Love, to break apart the monotony. However, this musical seems like it has no distinct songs and everything seems to be sung in the same melody.
Still, it is hard not to smile at this movie. The film is completely gorgeous, from the sets to the pretty Catherine Deneuve (her character claims she does not wear any make up which is such bull by the way). It is also ridiculously melodramatic, so it is difficult not to laugh and enjoy yourself.
Can we just take a moment to talk about what a stupid business idea an umbrella shop is? I mean, you would never get returning customers because how many umbrellas does one person really need? I have one that I rarely use because I lack the foresight to see if it is raining before I go outside. And even if I did buy one, I wouldn't go to a shop just for umbrellas. I have heard better business ideas from the Real Housewives.
Anyway, I have watched other Jacques Demy musicals and this one pales in comparison. However, it was still worth a watch.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
References Lola, an earlier film of Jacques Demy.
OK, let's just agree to differ here,
ReplyDeleteI'm no fan of musicals as it is.. and pink candy floss semi barbie worlds like this leave me very cold indeed. It was a sufferance to get through this one.
For another list I managed to survive 'Jaquot De Nantes' the other day.. and film by Demy's wife (Agnus Varda) about Demy's early formative life.. which interwove clips from his films with representations of what (supposedly) happened to him in real life. Not quite as bad as this....
Sorry! And I've now got to address another musical for you. Oh dear.. but I think we will agree more on that one.
Yeah this one I pretty much hated too but at least it wasn't overly long or confusing. My standards have become much lower after watching the films from The Book.
DeleteI guess I was not as negative about this movie as you guys. Sure, my initial impression was much the same, but slowly the movie fought back. The theme tune is pretty good and I loved the ending. It was just perfect.
ReplyDeleteHere is an idea for you: A James Bond movie with only singing...
> TS. Now you are just trying to be provocative...
ReplyDeleteOMG I would watch that
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I started watching this and realised what it was, I thought "Ray's gonna hate this..."
ReplyDeleteDessie .. awwwww.. thanks!
ReplyDeleteI reckon we should all get together to get Ray a singing telegram for his birthday
DeleteErrrrr ... I'm mildly concerned! Either I get a character from a film I strongly dislike ... a nauseously wholesome nun warbling about hills or favourite things .. (shudder).. OR if you look up the musicals I have admitted to liking..I could get a chillingly fresh faced youth telling me that tomorrow belongs to him...
ReplyDelete