Recently having a run of Christmas-themed films and TV shows viewings, I felt like going for something a bit left-field, and decided to watch a "new" title from auteur Julien Duvivier. Finding all I've seen from Duvivier to be outstanding,I got set to announce that I've just met a girl named Maria.
View on the film:
Sailing to Canada with a cast and crew from France, co-writer/(with Gabriel Boissy) directing auteur Julien Duvivier lands with style in vast wide-shots breathing in the great earthy outdoors of Quebec. As fellow IMDber dbdumonteil mentions in his terrific review, Duvivier cuts down the fir trees with an almost musical stylisation, layering the soundtrack with the national heritage of the locals in songs such as A la Claire Fontaine and Marianne s'en Va-t-Au -Moulin swaying to the gatherings of the towns people. Continuing to build the major visual motif across his credits of impending tragedy laying await behind the sun, Duvivier fills Maria full of grace with glowing, poetic white lighting, and Paradis's walk in the rugged terrain being followed in a tightly-held tracking shot.
For the first of (currently) three filmed adaptations of Louis Hémon's novel, (who died at just 32, via getting struck by a train when walking near the tracks) the screenplay by Boissy & Duvivier wrap this version in a magical elegance, thanks to Chapdelaine and Paradis's blossoming love being balanced by the shadow of death getting ever nearer to Chapdelaine's family. Teaming up for the first of seven times with Duvivier, the fresh-face Jean Gabin gives a very good turn as Paradis, who is given a surprisingly sensitive, delicate edge by Gabin. Looking angelic in close-up, beautiful Madeleine Renaud gives an enticing performance as Chapdelaine, with Renaud subtly casting a down-cast glimmer across her face, as Maria finds herself not full of grace.
View on the film:
Sailing to Canada with a cast and crew from France, co-writer/(with Gabriel Boissy) directing auteur Julien Duvivier lands with style in vast wide-shots breathing in the great earthy outdoors of Quebec. As fellow IMDber dbdumonteil mentions in his terrific review, Duvivier cuts down the fir trees with an almost musical stylisation, layering the soundtrack with the national heritage of the locals in songs such as A la Claire Fontaine and Marianne s'en Va-t-Au -Moulin swaying to the gatherings of the towns people. Continuing to build the major visual motif across his credits of impending tragedy laying await behind the sun, Duvivier fills Maria full of grace with glowing, poetic white lighting, and Paradis's walk in the rugged terrain being followed in a tightly-held tracking shot.
For the first of (currently) three filmed adaptations of Louis Hémon's novel, (who died at just 32, via getting struck by a train when walking near the tracks) the screenplay by Boissy & Duvivier wrap this version in a magical elegance, thanks to Chapdelaine and Paradis's blossoming love being balanced by the shadow of death getting ever nearer to Chapdelaine's family. Teaming up for the first of seven times with Duvivier, the fresh-face Jean Gabin gives a very good turn as Paradis, who is given a surprisingly sensitive, delicate edge by Gabin. Looking angelic in close-up, beautiful Madeleine Renaud gives an enticing performance as Chapdelaine, with Renaud subtly casting a down-cast glimmer across her face, as Maria finds herself not full of grace.