Robin Wood wrote that there are many similarities between Renoir's The Rules of the Game (La regle du jeu) and Grand Illusion (La grande illusion). Wood states that in both films Renoir discusses the differences between people and what keeps them apart. "'How to belong, how to meet'--another way of putting it is to say that Renoir's perennial concern is with the boundaries; that keep people apart and the possibility of transcending them. The four-part structure [of both films] enables him to develop this theme through a network of shifting, interlocking relationships presented consistently in terms of difference and the overcoming of difference." He says of Grand Illusion: "The film's basic assumption--that 'difference' is socially constructed but so thoroughly internalized and so strongly institutionalized as to be very difficult to overcome..."
Think about the characters in each film and their relationships, and in 3-4 well-developed paragraphs discuss how they overcome or don't overcome their differences. Think cinematically, as well as narratively.
Bonus points (10): Add one well-developed paragraph that discusses a film you've seen (either in class or on your own) that examines differences and boundaries between people and how the director presents this theme.
Both of Renoir’s most famous films explore the true meaning of difference and what really limits people relationships, actions and their lives. Renoir was known as a great director not only for wonderful cinematic skills but also narrative skills. His two films, “The Rules of the Game” and “The Grand Illusion” explore two types of social barriers that are put up to seperate people who should be together but yet can never be. The results are usually tragic and in turn they make us think about social and other manmade limits.
ReplyDeleteIn “The Rules of the Game” it is evident that “difference” is created through class and one of the demonstrations of this that proves most effective is the love between Christine and Andre. From the start of the film, when Christine cannot come greet Andre after hsi flight that he did “for her”, until the very end, class plays a major role. Andre is a popular culture icon while she is a wealthy aristocrat and thus cannot be seen with him. It’s not just the fact of impressions that cannot lead to real love but the idea Christine has that she can love anyone and this need to fulfil something else by running away with another man. She eventually falls in love with Octave as well and since he is the same class as her it is fine. But this just shows that as a result of her life, clearly void of commitment, she is able to do this. And that is something created by humans that creates to these differences and divisions that eventually lead to her death.
“The Grand Illusion” is another film which attempts to transgress the boundaries created by social structure. This one explores the differences created by both culture and class. Set during the Great War in Europe, the film follows two french soldiers and depicts their voyage throughout Europe, into Germany and eventually to Switzerland. One of the main relationships explored is between Boeldieu and Rauffenstein, they are both aristocrats who do not feel that they should be in the war but are also from different countries; Rauffenstein is a German while Boeldieu is a Frenchman, at the end of the film we see that country wins over their old friendship and Rauffenstein is forced to kill his friend.
Another important relationship is between Boeldieu and Marechal. The two are from the same country but Marechal is a poor man and as a result is not as high up in the military. This allows Boeldieu special privileges which at points almost make him feel bad for Marechal. But throughout the film Boeldieu acts as if they cannot be friends or even speak. There is just an extreme pity for him. A final relationship which actually does give hope for mankind is that between Marechal and Elsa, they are of different culture, German and French and live completely different lives but the fact that they can fall in love shows that perhaps there is hope for breaking these boundaries after all.
Another film that tries to explore how differences affect us is “The Breakfast Club”. The film is essentially a social experiment which attempts to mix together all facets of highschool life and basically see what happens. The film is resolved in a happier way with all five people realizing that they really aren’t that different after all. No one dies at least.