Why Did Cocteau Base This Film on the Legend of Orpheus?
As it says in the title of this blog post, I don't get why Cocteau decided that this film associate itself with the original myth of Orpheus, because in my opinion the only similarities are the main characters names and the going to the afterlife to retrieve a dead wife thing. In the versions of the Orpheus myth I'm familiar with Orpheus is much less of a outright ass to Eurydice. He's a absentminded and neglectful husband sure, but he certainly doesn't threaten her with harm when he's mad or act like he doesn't even like her. I honestly feel that if it wasn't for the driver he never would've gone to save her. Which leads me to another point, I feel like Heurtebise acts more like the Orpheus I am familiar with that Orpheus himself. Although I suppose this is fitting as the two seem to be two sides of the same coin to me. In my opinion Heurtebise embodies the love for Eurydice Orpheus seems to have thrown by the wayside in his search for the truth about the radio.
I also have questions about what death's whole deal was in the film. I feel like she represents the intrigue Orpheus is missing from his life which may be what attracts him to her. I feel this is out of character for the original Greek version of Orpheus but I digress. There's also the entire dominatrix type of energy she has which breaks away from the perfect little housewife persona of Eurydice in the movie. I can see how a poet would be drawn to this but not want to threaten their public image to pursue it. I feel that Cocteau probably could have changed all the names and I probably would not have the problems with the film that I do. I see the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice of one about undying love, but the way Cocteau portrays the two in the film does not give me the impression they have that kind of relationship.
I'm sorry if this is a bit "stream of consciousness" my thoughts aren't very concise this time and I've had trouble making this coherent. I hope that after doing the weekly reading I will be able to communicate my feelings about the film more clearly and do a more in depth analysis.
Hi Matt!
ReplyDeleteConcise or not, I feel that your views are refreshing. Personally, I was pretty confused with Orpheus's obsession with the radio and the significance behind it.
If I had to guess what Death's point was, I think she does matches the European belief of the role of death (minus the appearance), and leading souls to the afterlife; and because it's the elements of the Orpheus myth (whichever variation Cocteau was adapting, since there are many), I can understand why we just see Hell.
I too wonder why this movie was using the legend but I have my theories. It may have been a way to draw intrigue to the film and subvert audience expectations. Considering it loosely follows the story I think it was meant to spin the story as a way to show how artists can make art and maybe question the drives of an artist.
ReplyDeleteAs you state in your comment Eurydice is very much like a house wife while death takes on a dominatrax image. death and the underworld being a draw to Orpheus implying that artists are truly inspired only the face of morbidity only works if the viewer references the myth. so while I do not completely understand why, I think that it would be sound enough to say he did so to get across his message in a more subtle way?
Hi Nyssa!
DeleteYour explanation makes a lot of sense and I hadn't considered that perhaps Cocteau was being subversive of the myth intentionally. Your bit about artists finding true inspiration in the face of morbidity seems like a plausible metaphor that Cocteau was trying to make.
I guess that's the problem with these more artsy unspecific kind of films. Everyone interprets them differently so all the different opinions can get a bit confusing. It's also a good thing though because learning different people's takes on can allow new perspectives like you've offered me here.
thanks!