Orpheus: The Hidden Depth of Mirrors

    Orpheus was a fascinating watch as it was truly an expression of an artist's mind versus being like any other film in its time. The imagery that was used amazed me even in today's standards, especially with the use of mirrors in the film and the traveling through the underworld. Throughout the movie we are pushed to see mirrors as something more than just a reflection, but as a portal into another dimension. I liked the idea presented in the film that the underworld was not a foreign place we go to after we die, but that it exists along side our reality at all times. Orpheus is in love with the idea of death from the start of the movie as he is mesmerized by the Princess and follows her as she brings Cegeste to the afterlife. 

    Back to the imagery of mirrors in Orpheus. Someone in the movie said that mirrors are used to look at death, as we look into mirrors we see ourselves getting older with each passing second, death inevitably creeping in slowly moment by moment. I don't quite understand what causes Orpheus' infatuation with death, but he cannot get it out of his head so much so that he traveled to the underworld twice for it. In the mythology, Orpheus is so in love with his wife he looks Death in the face to win her back, but in the movie it was the opposite. His wive wanted his attention and he was so obsessed with death he couldn't bother to see that Eurydice needed him. When asked if he was going to the underworld for Death or for Eurydice he replied saying he was searching for both. 

    I think the fashion of the undead speaks more to queer culture than the storyline of the movie itself. Death is a sensual, beautiful, young dominatrix type and her henchmen clad in leather not unlike many sexually liberated queer people that were a part of the leather kink BDSM side of culture a few years later. Perhaps this movie was a strong inspiration for that movement.

    This movie was very campy and very innovative with its approach in special effects and I think it is a perfect representation of Cocteau's incredibly artistic mind.



Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2021 at 4:02 PM

    Hi Dean!

    I think you make a pretty good point about someone using mirrors to look at death when we look at ourselves getting older; it really brings the movie into perspective. It's still pretty baffling that the queer leather culture was basically influenced by WWII uniform aesthetics. You never know how an idea can be influenced into something much more!

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  2. Jackson DiCarloFebruary 26, 2021 at 7:30 PM

    I agree with your comments of confusion about Orpheus's infatuation with Death. I was also wondering why he cared more for her than he did his wife, as he did in the original legend. It was also strange that his wife was so after his attention after their return despite knowing it'd kill her. It seems like a respectful conversation between the two as adults about how to deal with the situation instead of being rude and reckless would've been better. Well done with the rest of the post too.

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