MovieChat Forums > Juste avant la nuit (1971) Discussion > Masonic and Christian references?

Masonic and Christian references?


1. The surname Masson (which is a derivation of the word Mason)
2. The fact that Charles' friend won't turn him in at any point.
3. (3:16)The painting of the girl with her finger up to her lips in a gesture of "silence".
4. (57:10) Charles begins singing "Silent Night" on Christmas Eve.
4. (1:24:51) The quick insert shots of the handshakes at the police station.
5. (23:23) The quick insert cut of the triangular, pyramid-looking clock which separates the two beds in the couple's bedroom.

It's interesting that the two women in the painting are both redheads, as were Charle's' wife and his lover. Much of the film takes place at Christmas, which is interesting also. Charles begins playing an excerpt from J.S.Bach's cantata "Ich Habe Genug" (I Have Enough) at the piano (18:30). This foreshadows him finally having enough of his feelings of guilt. The words to the cantata have some interesting parallels with the film, such as him dying in his sleep ("My farewells are made, world, good night!"). Charles tells his wife "You can't give me the peace I need." At the end he "sleeps in heavenly peace", which is the refrain of "Silent Night" which he was singing earlier in the film. Here are the lyrics to the cantata:

1. Aria B
I have enough,
I have taken the Savior, the hope of the righteous,
into my eager arms;
I have enough!
I have beheld Him,
my faith has pressed Jesus to my heart;
now I wish, even today with joy
to depart from here.
2. Recitative B
I have enough.
My comfort is this alone,
that Jesus might be mine and I His own.
In faith I hold Him,
there I see, along with Simeon,
already the joy of the other life.
Let us go with this man!
Ah! if only the Lord might rescue me
from the chains of my body;
Ah! were only my departure here,
with joy I would say, world, to you:
I have enough.
3. Aria B
Fall asleep, you weary eyes,
close softly and pleasantly!
World, I will not remain here any longer,
I own no part of you
that could matter to my soul.
Here I must build up misery,
but there, there I will see
sweet peace, quiet rest.
4. Recitative B
My God! When will the lovely 'now!' come,
when I will journey into peace
and into the cool soil of earth,
and there, near You, rest in Your lap?
My farewells are made,
world, good night!
5. Aria B
I delight in my death,
ah, if it were only present already!
Then I will emerge from all the suffering
that still binds me to the world.

reply

The timestamps cited above correspond to the copy now up on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vml5USXTlyU&t=3410s

reply