L'Atalante (1934)

a reward to discover this "older" film-and to experience the technique and style of the movie makers. this is part of the history of films that is so enjoyable to see now. thanks for having this available.

L'ATALANTE

This was the last of too few films made by Frenchman JEAN VIGO (1905-1934) L'Atalante was the real name of the Seine barge he used for his film. He filmed it from a stretcher he was so ill and died before he saw the finished film in its entirety. It is a simple but highly evocative story about a village girl who marries a bargee and has to come to terms with life on board a barge. Her husband has a disreputable bosun/mate, who collects stray cats, and a cabin boy and she has to adapt to living in close quarters with the two men and the boy. Disillusioned, and lured to life in Paris after they have visited a cafe with music, dancing and a very fly pedlar, she runs away. Her husband is distraught and goes to pieces but the old bosun comes to the rescue, finds her, brings her back and husband and wife are joyfully reunited. It is a historic picture of life on the Seine in the early 1930's. DVDs with English subtitles are available through Albris but the dialogue is so simple and sparse, and the storyline so strong, you do not need to understand French to thoroughly enjoy this delightful relatively short film.