the bells - Le boucher (1971) Discussion

[–] axhi 20 years ago

Can someone tell me why do we so often hear the bells?

This bothered me throughout the film as well. I couldn't figure out any meaning or link for the bells.

The bells could perhaps not symbolize anything at all - when I attended university, I lived right across from the main bell tower which would count off the hours. I didn't notice the bells after the first week. Perhaps the bells are meant simply to add to the rustic ambiance.

What really gets to me is the cat meowing near the end. It sounded very artificial as it was just as loud and clear when the window was closed or open, so it was obviously foleyed in afterwards. If it was added in afterwards, there must have been some purpose to it - perhaps Helen was ignoring the cat as she was ignoring Popaul. One could run with this "intentional ignorance/indifference" idea, perhaps coming up with a meaning for the bells.

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[–] pierricrampin 19 years ago

we often can hear bells in a lot of films of Claude Chabrol. Bells are very important in every small cities in France. I don't know the exact meaning of the bells in the cinema.

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[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] zurichpoet 15 years ago

alpinebixby,
Your thoughts are quite astute.

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[–] John-367 14 years ago

Almost all such spot effects are almost always added in post - by foley or library sounds. The job of the sound recordist on the set is to get the best possible voice recording, almost everything else sounds better specially recorded later.
Of course, there is even more reason to do it in this situation given the disinclination of cats to make the noise you want, when you want it.

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[–] nadiaangelica 18 years ago

Actually I think the bells are meant to symbolize Hélène's connection to the catholic church and the catholic values. The scenes where we hear the bells are often the scenes were we get to know something about Hélène.

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[–] Pollyrs 18 years ago

I feel it may be that the bells are also a creepy reminder of the inevitable fate of the film. Everytime there is a murder there is a funeral, and the funeral is held at the church from which we hear the bells.
It also gives a sense of how small the place is.
The bells, like the cat miaowing are simply there to make you feel uneasy like the unpredictable music. The bells are more rooted in psychology because it makes the viewer think of what one associates it with within the film. In this case, it is more sombre and generally death. It is hinting towards the fact Helen may die.. Of course those who have seen it know what happens..

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[–] magnolia12883 17 years ago

Just watched it. If there's a meaning to it, I agree w/Pollyrs (previous)!

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[–] zurichpoet 15 years ago

Pollyrs, good points, very well said. But I'll add I don't think the bells are supposed to mean anything. As fate really means nothing, you can't control it, so really: it has no meaning.

Surf's up.

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[–] torential 15 years ago

I agree with you, Pollyrs. The bells tolled not only as timekeeper for the village but also to announce funeral processions. The audience becomes conditioned to expect another murder whenever the village's bells toll.

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[–] CaucasianMale 17 years ago

seeing as the film is all about guilt, the catholic angle would fit in nicely.

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[–] leforcat 17 years ago

In fact the whole soundtrack of the film seems important, it seems to me that many of the sounds have been re-mixed later and are not quite natural, they seem to serve some purpose as sound-effects, rather than simply sounds. It includes everything - also the hand clapping, car engines, etc.

Gentlemen, you can't FIGHT here, this is a War Room!

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[–] letess 10 years ago

There is absolutely no evidence of Helene's connection to the Catholic Church. Church bells, chimes, bicycle bells are a constant in the audio. The only time you see the church is during the funeral.

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[–] Prelude_in_C_maj 14 years ago

While I don't mean to say that things like the bells have no deeper meaning at all, I also think that in this case, they toll a lot because, well, that's what bells do in a rural country village like this one, in that era.

The village church and school and village square were central places for rural communities in that place and time. Bells chimed regularly, for special occasions -- and we get a wedding and funeral in this movie -- but also throughout the hour.

I'm in modern east London but even in my area there is one very old local church that chimes every fifteen minutes with the "Westminster chime" pattern.

A director can and does put many symbolic features into a film like this, but here I just don't think the bells mean anything; they're just country church bells do what country church bells do. It maintains the sense of location to keep them in and make sure they are foleyed -- establishes and maintains "place."

When I think up a decent sig...I'll let you know.

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[–] Wilde_child 13 years ago

When the cat meowed and then it suddenly stopped I thought the butcher had killed him, and she would find the dead cat and the murderer would jump on her...

I think I've watched too many horror films and end up expecting clichés.

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[–] psdhart 12 years ago

The village church and school and village square were central places for rural communities in that place and time. Bells chimed regularly, for special occasions -- and we get a wedding and funeral in this movie -- but also throughout the hour.

Exactly

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[–] saturn_gazelle 11 years ago

As in Bunuel movies, the constant bell sound makes a dreamy atmosphere of death and timelessness.

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