RARA-AVIS: Ossessione and La bete humaine

From: William Ahearn ( williamahearn@yahoo.com)
Date: 13 Sep 2007


Hey,

In my continuing research into pre-war noir films, I just saw Visconti's Ossessione and Jean Renoir's La bete humaine. Funny thing about those postwar French critics. Chartier called "The Lost Weekend" one of the most depressing films he's ever seen even if it ends with a kiss and that "La bete humaine" offers a glimmer of hope. Did he see these films? "The Lost Weekend" doesn't end with a kiss and "La bete humaine" has two murders and a suicide and it is pure noir and an amazing film. Ossession is based on Cain's
"Postman" and is also an incredible flick. If you see the DVDs at your library, get them. Fabulous movies. Will have a writeup on my site soon along with Megan Abbott: The Past Is Mine.

Not sure if my posts ever even show up.

William

Essays and Ramblings
<http://www.williamahearn.com>

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