MOVIECLUB #13 - Due Monday 9/14: Delicatessen

MOVIECLUB #13 - Due Monday, September 14th:
Delicatessen (1991)



Recommended Double-Feature: A Very Long Engagement (2004)

Also:
Amelie (2001)
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1989)
City of Lost Children (1995)

Yeah, it's kind of a unique film, isn't it?

Perhaps other films by Jeunet and/or Caro like 'City of Lost Children' which, frankly, could stand alone on this film club list by itself.

'Eating Raoul' might be another interesting one to look at as a companion piece. If we're looking at it as Dystopian futures, then I might also recommend either '12 Monkeys' or 'Brazil.' They're more of a stretch but at least they'll be easy for everyone to find. 'City of Lost Children' is probably best.

I'd pair it with Amelie. Two different sides of Jeunet.

between Amelie and City of Lost Children, which have most of us seen less (or not at all)?

personally, i never caught A Very Long Engagement. that might make for an interesting double-feature--as we would be comparing his debut with his most recent film

I see The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and her Lover as a possible double feature. Both have black humour, a reality close to ours but not, but mainly due to my perspective of Delicatessen being about the rhythm of the film and The Cook about the colour. In other words, aural impact vs visual impact.

so, this was easily my favorite of (what of i've seen of) Jeunet's work.. still, i think it's somewhat of a misfire.. i always really really want to like his movies, but they never quite come together as well as i had hoped.. his use of unforgettable (and oftentimes disturbing) visuals combined seamlessly with auditory rhythms and melodies is amazing.. the "fixing the bed" scene was hilarious.. but, overall, Jeunet is all style over substance.. to be honest, i'd be curious to know if he would even disagree with that..

all in all, not a "bad" movie.. definitely a treat for the senses--if, perhaps, not for the mind

if this were the first Jeunet film i'd seen, i would have liked it much more.. unfortunately, he seems to recycle a lot of themes and ideas from his own work

Leetsu, the cook the thief... couldn't be a more different film. One is political allegory, the other is fairy tale.

Anyway, NSpan, I pretty much agree on your assessment. I think Jeunet is a brilliant and vibrant visualist, but it's essentially superficial. I much prefer Amelie, which has heart.

numbersix_99 wrote:Leetsu, the cook the thief... couldn't be a more different film. One is political allegory, the other is fairy tale.

If you say so, but that doesn't invalidate my reasons for suggesting it as a double-feature.