Monday, April 9, 2012
Love in the Time of Beatles
One interpretation of Breathless is that it is a film about love in the modern world, where lovers know little about each others' past, follow their impulsive longings, only to end up betrayed at the end. Is there more to this take on modern romance? Is there something deeper in Michel and Patricia's relationship? Or is there something less? Is love even possible in the shadow of the atomic bomb and the Cold War? (Don't forget that Michel has other girlfriends and Patricia spent the evening -- and might have slept with -- her editor).
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Love? No. Lust? Yes.This film says very little about love. Michel and Patricia have a shallow relationship that is based on mutual friendship and benefits but nothing too deep to coined 'love.' The truth is that these two people know very little about each other but they do have a certain affinity for each other that is purely physical. This is what we sense when we watch the film. Michel does mention his plans of eloping with her to Rome, but we sense no conviction in his plans- it all sounds like wishful thinking. Thus, its makes it hard to tell if these two actually love each other.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this movie hints at the fact that love can be hopeless in a busy environment. Michel and Patricia go about their daily routines and they barely have to look out for each other. They see each other for a short time and they get back to their daily routines. Is this a fair shot at love? No. However, the little time that they spend together is enough to cater for their lusts. This is what we now call, "Friends with benefits."
Now, this sounds like the modern world today. People are always busy and by a similar scenario as Michel and Patricia, they never get around to finding love. By the time they are ready to settle and find love, thats when they are really breathless and exhausted by their own lives. The film depicts this especially when Michel is about to die. He says, "Je suis fatigue." He realizes that he has overworked himself so much that, he stands no real shot at love and thus sees no reason to escape the police. This is a sad tale but a true telling of what it was like for most people in the 1960's. Unfortunately, it still resonates today.