RÉALISME POÉTIQUE

Réalisme Poétique: translation

Poetic Realism

Réalisme poétiqueor poetic realism is a name given to a trend or current in French cinema starting in the 1930s and leading to the Nazi Occupation. It is often called a movement or school, but it was less coherent than either of those terms might suggest. Sometimes referred to as "populist" cinema, poetic realism was influenced and to some degree inspired by the political ideas of the Front Populaire, and indeed, several filmmakers associated with the current were members of the party. While it is not a coherent movement, there are several underlying tendencies that unite the films associated with poetic realism. First of all, as the name suggests, these were realist, often darkly realist, films, sometimes adapted from the works of realist writers, sometimes written for the screen.Secondly, in a more naturalist vein, directors associated with the current had a strong interest in the working classes, and working-class characters figure prominently in these films. Thirdly, the films associated with the current often use stark images and chiaroscuro lighting, where light and dark take on symbolic effect. Finally, the films depict Paris or some other large city. They focus on working-class areas, notably thebanlieues. In that regard, the current followed on from the influence of early directors such asLouis FeuilladeandRené Clair, and would influence later French waves, including theNouvelle Vagueor New Wave and thecinéma de banlieue. Many critics also feel that the current influenced both Italian neorealism and American film noir. One difference from both the later and earlier currents is that, although the films associated with poetic realism feature the city, they were typically shot on sound stages and in studios.

Directors whose films exhibit characteristics associated with poetic realism includeMarce Carné,Pierre Chenal,Julien Duvivier,Jean Grémillon, andJean Renoir. Some of the best-known films associated with the current include Grémillon'sLa Petite Lise(1930),Guele d'amour(1937), andRemorques(1939), Chenal'sLa Rue sans nom(1933),Le Dernier tournant(1933), andCrime et chatîment(1934), Carné'sLe Quai de brumes(1938),L'Hôtel du nord(1939), andLe Jour se lève(1939), Duvivier'sLa Bandera(1935),La Belle équipe(1936), andPepé leMoko(1937), and Renoir'sLa Grande illusion(1937),La Bête humaine(1938), andLa Règle du jeu(1939). The actor most closely associated with poetic realism isJean Gabin, who starred in many of the films cited as examples. Although a later director,Jacques Beckeralso shows tendencies derived from poetic realism.Marc Allegretalso shows some characteristics of poetic realism in his works, and his brother, Yves Allegret, has been seen as having revived certain aspects of the vein after the war.Jacques Feyderis considered an important influence on the current, although only hisLa Kermesse héroïque(1935) is typically named among films belonging to the vein. Some critics point to the influence ofJean Vigo, who is also sometimes included in the list of poetic realism directors.