LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNEGeorges Méliès, 1902

Kristina Botinova

Georges Méliès Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip To The Moon),1902, is one of the best know films made by Méliès, ranked on 84th

place by The Village Voice 20th century. It is known as one of thefirst science fiction movies. This short black and white silent film,follows the adventure of a group of astronomers who travel to theMoon in their desire to explore it, led by Méliès himself in the mainrole of Professor Barbenfouillis. The moment when their spaceshipliterally hits the Moon in it’s eye is one of the most memorablemoments in the history of cinema. Another unique thing about thisshort movie is that it is filmed in the overtly theatrical style for whichit’s director became famous.

This short production is inspired by a wide range of sources,including Jules Verne's novels From the Earth to the Moon and Aroundthe Moon. Also Jacques Offenbach's operetta Le voyage dans lalune (an unauthorized parody of Verne's novels) and the A Trip tothe Moon attraction at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo,New York.

The movie starts off in a room with a group

of scientists, which by the look of the room

they are situated in, are astronomers. It can

be seen that their robes have stars, the room

has models of planets and solar systems.

There is a big telescope looking through the

window of the room and at the dashboard

we see a figure of a planet. Every element

of this room is there with the right idea and

mission.

After their discussion is over, they feel rejoicedabout what will come next. We find the processof constructing something that may be theproduct of the earlier discussion. What we arewitnessing is workers bringing the astronomer’splans into reality.

What makes an impression while the men are boardingtheir spacecraft is it’s shape which is a bullet capsule. Thisgives an metaphorical idea of “fast as a bullet”. The nextinteresting and quite imaginary thing is the way the spacecapsule is being sent out in space, via cannon. This cannonis fired up with the help of young women dressed up insailors’ outfits, which appear to be the “marines”.

And we finally arrive at the notorious moment when the explorers arrive at the moon, which greets

them with somehow supercilious look. Not believing, nor expecting that they would reach it. The way

the moon looks, gives the impression of something unreachable. The Moon has been proven in few

moments that it’s not as untouchable as it though it was, agonizing from the space-bullet stuck in it’s

eye. Upon landing, Méliès in the role of Professor Barbenfouillis leads us into unfamiliar and never

before explored world, which gives space for the imagination to roam free.

Successfully arrived on the surface of the Moon, the astronomers are now

astronauts. Amazed with their achievement, the men wave to the Earth which

slowly moves away from the scene. On this new world our adventurers

encounter the creatures that inhabit it. What is interesting is the way this new

and unseen world is brought in front of the camera. It’s a place with similar

nature, what makes it different at first look are the aliens and their behaviour.

This brings the idea of humanity shown in a different perspective. The interior

of the palace that the astronomers enter after being captured as intruders is

rich on details, helping to create the mood of this scene and to distinguish it’s

difference.

After taking the life of the alien’s leader the astronomers manage to escape taking one of Moon’s

inhabitants with them. Back at Earth they are welcomed as heroes together with their trophy – a man

from the Moon.

Interesting thing about the way each scene shows different mood and situation is that everything in it has

logic and place, in order to make this imaginary world more realistic. What is even more admiring is

that with simplicity and the lack of any actual speech, Georges Méliès managed to make the audience

experience this entertaining and exciting adventure, creating a shot movie that is even nowadays being

looked at as one of the greatest productions in the history of cinema.