Poetic realism


Poetic realism was a film movement in France of the 1930s. More a tendency than a movement, poetic realism is not strongly unified like Soviet montage or French Impressionism but were individuals who created this lyrical style. Its leading filmmakers were Pierre Chenal, Jean Vigo, Julien Duvivier, Marcel Carné, and, perhaps the movement's most significant director, Jean Renoir. Renoir made a wide variety of films influenced by the leftist Popular Front group and even a lyrical short feature film. Frequent stars of these films were Jean Gabin, Michel Simon, Simone Signoret, and Michèle Morgan.

Characteristics

Poetic realism films are "recreated realism", stylised and studio-bound, rather than approaching the "socio-realism of the documentary". They usually have a fatalistic view of life with their characters living on the margins of society, either as unemployed members of the working class or as criminals. After a life of disappointment, the characters get a last chance at love but are ultimately disappointed again and the films frequently end with disillusionment or death. The overall tone often resembles nostalgia and bitterness. They are "poetic" because of a heightened aestheticism that sometimes draws attention to the representational aspects of the films. Though these films were weak in the production sector, French cinema did create a high proportion of such influential films largely due to the talented people in the industry in the 1930s who were working on them. The most popular set designer was Lazare Meerson. Composers who worked on these films included Georges Auric, Arthur Honegger, Joseph Kosma, and Maurice Jaubert. Screenwriters who contributed to many of the films included Charles Spaak and Jacques Prévert. The movement had a significant impact on later film movements, in particular Italian neorealism and the French New Wave.

Notable examples

Forerunners of the poetic realist movement include:
Poetic realist works from leading filmmakers of the mid-to-late 1930s/mid-to-late 1940s include:
  • L'Atalante by Jean Vigo
  • La Bandera by Julien Duvivier
  • La Kermesse héroïque by Jacques Feyder
  • La Belle Équipe by Julien Duvivier
  • Les Bas-fonds by Jean Renoir
  • Pépé le Moko by Julien Duvivier
  • La Grande Illusion by Jean Renoir
  • La Bête humaine by Jean Renoir
  • Le Quai des brumes by Marcel Carné
  • Hôtel du Nord by Marcel Carné
  • La Règle du jeu by Jean Renoir
  • Le Jour se lève by Marcel Carné
  • Remorques by Jean Grémillon
  • Lumière d’été by Jean Grémillon
  • Le ciel est à vous by Jean Grémillon
  • Children of Paradise by Marcel Carné