Excerpt from Bazin "Mr. Hulot and Time"

Christiana 2022-03-12 08:01:02

From: Bazin "Mr. Hulot and Time", translated by Cui Junyan

However, if we wish to start the analysis from the character, then we will immediately see that, unlike the improvised comedy tradition that has been carried on through the burlesque comedy, the character's Uniqueness lies in a certain incompleteness of it. The protagonist of an improv comedy represents the nature of a comedy, and the role of the character is distinct and consistent. On the contrary, M. Hulot seems to be characterized by a shyness to fully affirm his own existence. He is always hesitant and elusive: he elevates the sense of fear to an ontological principle. However, it is this detached attitude of M. Hulot from the world around him that must be the cause of all unpleasant events, because it does not conform to the norms of interest and of society. Mr. Hulot is by nature anachronistic. However, this is not to say that M. Hulot is clumsy. On the contrary, M. Hulot is extremely graceful, an "angel of impetuousness", and the chaos he causes is a chaos of tenderness and freedom. Significantly, the only child in the film is a character that is both graceful and utterly endearing. Only the kids don't come here for "vacation assignments". The children don't care about Mr. Luo. He is their badge and can always get along closely. Like children, he doesn't think it's disrespectful to play games, and he doesn't care about which kind of entertainment is elegant and which kind of entertainment is low. If there was only one person dancing at the masquerade, it would be Mr. Hulo, and he was taking it easy with the emptiness around him. The fireworks kept as ordered by the retired major were reimbursed by Hulot with a single match.

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The view from the top of the film overlooking the beach always gives me a special feeling, some pictures I captured.
http:/ /www.stbook.com.cn/zhounan/image/huluo.html

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Extended Reading

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday quotes

  • The Aunt: A marvelous view, don't you think, Monsieur? I was just admiring the sea, the rocks, the white sails. It's all so lovely. Is that Saint-Nazare? See? Over there.

    Monsieur Hulot: No. It's over there.

    The Aunt: I always find a seaside vacation so pleasant and restful. Unfortunately, it's so windy that my hair's always a mess.

  • Fashionable Male Youth #1: [to Martine] What about my place? I have a sensational record by Billie Holiday.

    Fashionable Male Youth #2: I prefer the Duke.

    Fashionable Male Youth #3: What about Fats Waller?

    Fashionable Male Youth #1: [Offering a cigarette to Martine] A king-size?

    Fashionable Male Youth #2: Perhaps you'd prefer mine?