Poetic Realism in Film

1. Poetic realism was a film movement in France of the 1930s and through the war years.

• Its leading filmmakers were Jean Renoir, Pierre Chenal, Jean Vigo, Julien Duvivier, and Marcel Carné.

• Frequent stars of these films were Jean Gabin, Michel Simon, Simone Signoret, and Michèle Morgan.

2. Poetic realism films are "recreated realism"

They usually have a fatalistic view of life with their characters living on the margins of society, either as

unemployed members of the working class or as criminals.

“La Chienne”

Poetic Realist films featured pessimistic narratives and night-time settings, and a dark, contrasting visual style pre-figuring American film noir.

“Le Jour se Lève”

3.The major themes of Poetic Realism are bitterness, disappointment, disillusionment, and nostalgia.

They can be seen as a social critique of lower-class conditions and a general part of the ominous atmosphere in France before World War II.

“Le Jour se Leve”

The “poetic” in Poetic Realism refers to the exaggeration and aestheticism of romance, doomed romance, and lower-class squalor that draws attention to uncomfortable truths about society.

Pépé le Moko

4. The goal of poetic realism was to distill the essence of situations rather than to merely record them faithfully. The tools for revealing underlying meanings with

hyper-authenticity included careful design of scene, framing, lighting and shadows, layers of the

camera's visual field, camera positions and movements, and, of course, the performances.

In Port of Shadows (Le Quai des brumes), for example, fog is used in all of the outdoor scenes to create a kind of mythic, other worldly atmosphere. The skies are overcast as well and the sets subtly suggest a world of fantasy and tragic destiny.

5.The doomed universe of Poetic Realist films was said to reflect the gloomy morale of the immediate pre-war years (1930s).

An important aspect of Poetic Realism is its rejection of the happy ending, which was so common in Hollywood movies at the time. Poetic Realist filmmakers distanced themselves from their Hollywood rivals.

Port of Shadows was so bleak and depressing in its outlook that the French government and military took to saying, "If we've lost the war, blame it on Quai des Brumes."

Major Tenets Of Poetic Realism1. Heavily Imagistic

Pépé le Moko (1937) by Julien Duvivier

2. Characterized by a deep social pessimism

“Le Jour se Leve” (Daybreak) - Marcel Carne (1939)

3. The most tangible quality is the sense of anxiety and

finality“Le Jour se Leve” - Marcel Carne (1939)

4. Atmosphere dominates these films

Le Quai des brumes(Port of Shadows) (1938) by Marcel Carné

5. All focused on the individual against the background of poverty, crime and violence

Pépé le Moko (1937) by Julien Duvivier

6. Destructive blend of words and images

La Chienne (1931) Jean Renoir

7. Aimed to illuminate the invisible lying within the normally visible world. http://youtu.be/_FodxQ3hSjw Le Quai des brumes (1938) by Marcel Carné

8.A mixture of realism and symbolism Marcel Carné’s Le Jour se Lève

9. Dignified the image of the working class Le Jour se Lève