Highly poetic perspective of angels fawning over the human existence's simple pleasures and complexities. I love that style of world building where we get quick fragments of many stories. Strange how it turned from a classic black b/w film to like a proto-Twin-Peaks featuring Nick Cave(?!).
From Nostalgia to Novelty.
I watched this in the morning. I love films that exaggerate simple beauty and have a meditative quality. It sticks with you throughout the day. The body movement was striking and throughout the day I was focused on how I and others moved.
There is a interview with Denis by Barry Jenkins, the director of Moonlight. She said the actual French legionaries were offended they assumed it was about gay men. Really interesting subtext.
www.criterionchannel.com/beau-travail/videos/claire-denis-and-barry-jenkins-on-beau-travail
Mostly atmosphere which feels alien and dangerous and serene and beautiful. A powerful story which is told in scraps and heightens tensions for dangers that are always invisible. The discussions and conflicts are complex and interesting.
Having read the book, this film does everything a book cannot do.
How does media shape and numb our emotional connections? Can we just escape and ignore horrific trauma our loved ones have caused? This film makes you take a step back. It plays out like a dream although it premises are eerily plausible.
