revue de l'artiste

The Artist - 2012, dir. Michel Hazanavicius

I wasn't sure what to expect from this film -- I vaguely knew that it might be a silent film, I'd seen an intriguing trailer for it, but basically thought that any film released in 2012 in black and white and possibly silent must be worth a watch, if only to see if they could pull it off.

Put simply, they did.

It's set in the late 1920s, and the main character is an old-school melodrama film star called George Valentin, who is basking in the heyday of his fame and success. Not giving anything away, time passes and the film industry progresses to the stage of pioneering the first 'talkie' films -- something Valentin thinks will never catch on.

The film as a whole -- while having plenty of genuinely funny moments -- is actually a lot more melancholy than I imagined. It's directed and shot beautifully, and I was surprised at just how little I missed any speech (there were some dialogue subtitles, but mainly you were left to work it out for yourself). It's to the credit of the actors that you just didn't really feel that you needed any dialogue.

I suppose it was out of such necessity that melodrama was born, but for The Artist to be able to distinguish between the over-acting of the movie-within-the-movie and the film itself is impressive. The film itself is subject to the same constraints as the silent films of the twenties, but I wasn't left with the feeling that any of it was unnecessarily over-acted.

I enjoyed the elements of the film that mirror characteristics of the original silents (like the characterisation of the little jack russell side-kick), and in a sense I think those sometimes blurred boundaries were reflected in George Valentin's life -- he expected the same reaction from people in real-life as those in his movies, and was eventually left behind in a world that made him increasingly irrelevant.

Overall, I was left with the urge to watch some of the old originals (my knowledge of them is lacking to say the least), after being given a new appreciation of their artistry.

And that, I suppose, was the point.

love

Monday's Faces

Quite a formidable-looking woman isn't she? Something very kind about her face though. She looks quite matronly, as though she'd know what to do in a crisis, and her hair and clothes are very practical, as though she's used to scooping up any number of children and generally keeping order. 

This is quite an unusual picture compared to the others, I think, because she doesn't appear to know that it's being taken – or, at least, hasn't been given much time to prepare for it, as she seems to be still walking out of the building. Maybe someone told her that she was having her picture taken that day, and she was grumblingly on her way out, thinking that she "didn't have enough time for such nonsense."

Monday's Faces (somewhat belated)

What a sweet chap. I love his cap – and pipe for that matter. I accidentally (yes, really) had a puff of a pipe when I was about 7 – the foulest thing I've ever tasted (except for beetroot). Still, they do look dapper.

I'm trying to work out why he was having his picture taken there – it almost looks like someone caught him walking down the street and asked him to smile. Maybe he just wanted his picture taken outside his house? Who knows? Looks like he's fairly dressed up though – maybe the morning of his wedding? Capturing his last moments as a free man? I kind of hope that's the case, I like the thought of him being so happy at the thought that his single days are over.

Monday's Faces

I love this one (realised I say that about all of them, but doesn't make it less true). She really really reminds me of Marilla Cuthbert from Anne of Green Gables – who is, needless to say, a legend.

I wonder why she's wearing black, maybe she's a widow? And, more mysteriously, I wonder what the paper is that she's holding. She looks pretty pleased, whatever it is. I love her smile, she looks very grandmotherly I think. Trying to work out where she's from is also pretty tricky. Something makes me feel like it could be somewhere in America or Canada, not sure why. Something about the combination of that curtain and the wallpaper. Can't put my finger on it though.

So, pretty much a real-life Marilla Cuthbert. Not a bad accolade.

Monday's Faces

She's gorgeous, isn't she? I love her hair and clothes, she looks so stylish. I love that she's called Dorothy, I reckon her friends called her Dot.

I think it's so interesting that so many of these old portraits are postcards - I wonder how that worked? Did people get a batch made, or just one-offs? I wonder how much it cost - was it just for special occasions or did everyone get them done?

I love her smile, just a hint. Mona Lisa's got nothing on this lass.

Monday's Faces

Just look at this lovely little lad - what a poppet! Thought I'd post this one today seeing as it's such gorgeous weather outside; makes me feel summery. It's quite tricky trying to guess where he might be, but I reckon he's just visiting the seaside for the day. Looks like a city lad to me. And look at his little face, "glee" personified.

My favourite bit of this picture, though, is his little boat on a string. It makes me wonder where he got it. Did he buy it in a little seaside shop? Something makes me doubt it. I reckon he brought it with him specially, and had it in his lap all the way to the seaside on the train. You know when you see something so beautiful, or so lovely, it kind of makes you feel like your heart might break? Well, that little boat is a heart-clencher.

Monday's Faces

This one's so lovely. Even though neither of them look like either of us, it reminds me of my dad and I. It makes me wonder where they were going when they stopped for their picnic. Me and Dad used to go to the Lake District for the occasional weekend when I was younger, and we used make stops for what became affectionately known as "car picnics". 

In fact, I used to kind of hope that it'd rain so that we could have a car picnic instead of one outside because, somehow, sitting in the car all cosy while the rain battered down on the roof and windows seemed much more of an adventure. It was a comforting, warm space with just me and Dad out in the middle of nowhere with our Scotch eggs and apple turnovers. Perfect. I like to think that the girl in this picture was feeling something of the happiness I felt at those times.

Monday's Faces

Slightly belated, but here nonetheless. Here is this week's Monday Face:

Love this lady. Perhaps she's celebrating getting her first house? Who knows. I just love the little table with the tablecloth and plant - I wonder how long she took to decide what to put on the table?

I can identify with her pride over her house, something that just belongs to her. Recently, and rather pathetically perhaps, I've been overcome with a nesting urge - I cannee wait to get a house after uni and decorate it and make it all cosy.

Well, maybe when I do I can orchestrate a picture like this one and put it up here for all to see. Sounds like a plan...

Monday's Faces

On the back:

 My father:- Robt Maughan.
Photograph taken Llandudno
Summer 1922 'Craig-y-Don Hotel.'
Dad had just returned from London, having
played bowles for England
against the Australians.

Monday's Faces

What a sweet couple. Just lovely. Slightly shy, she's not sure what to do with her hands, he's not sure whether to hold her arm. Newly married perhaps?

Detail on the back of this one: they're called Arthur and Julia.

Monday's Faces

Found this one here at the weekend. After promising myself I wouldn't buy any more for a good while, I couldn't resist it.

I think the friends of the chap on the left would describe him as "indomitable."

Monday's Faces

I get the impression that they didn't hold hands very often. But then, perhaps his father didn't used to hold his hand either.

somers town

A brilliant film, completely lovely. Directed by Shane Meadows (of "This is England" fame) and so delicate.

Let's hear it for British film.

Monday's Faces

No description on the back of this one. My eye is drawn to the lady on the left - Elsie, I reckon. Not too clear where they are either, but looks as though they could be in a boat. The lady on the right looks a tad insipid - lately jilted perhaps?

I think Elsie has taken her out for the day to cheer her up, and "get her some fresh air." I think Elsie is the type of lady who would insist on rowing the boat, and when she got together with her friends would say she was having "a night with the girls."

Monday's Faces

Quite a find I made today. I had an hour to kill between lectures so I found myself wandering up a narrow flight of stairs to a local antique shop and having a hunt around. There were was a fair brilliant range of trinkets and "objets" as my dad would say.

But the thing that caught my eye was a box of postcards and photographs labelled "subjects" for 25p each. Trying to stifle my excitement I asked the shopkeeper (who looked very dapper in a suit) if he could open the cabinet for me.

I spent the next half hour searching through the box of absolute treasure and beaming with happiness. Some had scribbled dates and places on the back, some had detailed descriptions in neat hand, others had nothing - allowing me the pleasure of imagining.

I bought 13 cards today and fully intend to go back for more soon. I tell you, looking at those black and white and sepia faces really bloomin cheered me up. And, as Mondays can often be fairly dour, I'll share a face a week with you. I hereby announce with great pleasure the first "Monday's Face":


No detail on the back other than the print "Carta Postala Italiana", but I like to think she was a dancer called Maria and she saved that sequin skirt for her dance sessions and nothing else.

I love the way she's stood so awkwardly and her face is slightly blurred with movement, as though she turned her head at the last minute - perhaps because she felt embarrassed in front of the camera. She's not got model looks, but I'll bet the only time she felt truly beautiful was when she was dancing.