India Song
Director: Marguerite Duras
Year Released: 1975
Rating: 2.5
Oh, that Marguerite! Such a card! This, one of her most famous works, can best be described as a visual poem about the ennui of the bourgeoisie and, in particular, Delphine Seyrig's discontent with her husband, her life, her lovers and everything else. Anyone that's ever seen a Duras film - or read a Duras novel - knows about her technique, and should be aware of her (purposefully) alienating tactics, so when characters drift off screen but dialogue continues and when the characters speak their minds without following a rigid train of thought or when the camera simply drifts over the landscape (accompanied by enigmatic, fractured voice over) it shouldn't come as a surprise. I'd be hard pressed to say I found this in the slightest bit "fun" or "entertaining" - the self-conscious style strips it of emotion - though to suggest it's 'meaningless' is to do a great injustice to Ms. Duras' idiosyncratic thought process.
