MovieChat Forums > Fitzcarraldo (1982) Discussion > A metaphor for the birth process

A metaphor for the birth process

posted 17 years ago by rupak-ghosh
5 replies | jump to latest

I just watched the film last night. My Film Studies professor was gracious enough to hand me a copy of the DVD. I asked him this question today morning, I shall pose the same here also.

Would you agree if I say that the entire bit about the ship is a metaphor for the process of birth? Let me explain where I am coming from.

Fitzcarraldo was given nine months for his project to finish. When he was explaining the captain about his fantastic plan the pencil drawing that he came up with distinctly resembles a diagram of the human female reproductive system. One particular angle in a shot of the ship climbing up the slope reminded me of an intra utero shot of babies to be born. And last but not least, the severing of the rope that tied the ship distinctly reminded me of the severing of the umbilical cord.

What say?

[–] MagAmbersons 17 years ago

Very observant! I don't doubt that this metaphor might have been deliberately layered in the film by Herzog. I suppose the ship crashing on the rocks could represent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, huh?

[–] csenoner 14 years ago

wow. great insight. i did not pick up on that but it makes sense.

imagine , after the baby has been born and the cord has been cut, the proud parent no longer has the same control and assurance of their child's safety that they once had, the boat drifts down stream as the parent watches in horror, trying to control the situation , but in the end powerless and left having to hope and trust that catastrophe will be averted. It myst be something similar to what a parent experiences watching their child grow.

not sure if im taking that too far. but it seems to work.

i definitely felt such a build up, such a great tension and then a release.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Ramuna 12 years ago

Nah, it was just some coincidences happen to occur. It didn't take them the entire 9 months to move the ship to the other side of the river. It was just part of the process of the 9 months deadline time Fitz was given to prove he might do something progressful otherwise his exploitation license will be revoked.

The baby must be bornt way prematuer if we stick to your theory. lol.

But the pencil drawing you mention does resemble a diagram of the female reproductive part. That much I agree and it happens to cross my mind too on my very first viewing.

[–] prplayer 8 years ago

ha, that's interesting

so many movies, so little time