Bresson influence?


Other than the obvious similarities with Mouchette, did anyone think this film owes something to Bresson in its use of sound? Sound effects were very noticeable throughout the film - crunching gravel, the wind, splashing in the water, the gas. It seemed to me that special attention had been paid to the sound ala Bresson.

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Now that you mention it... hadn't thought about it before, but there does seem to be an import given to everyday sounds in the film, much as an almost talismanic import is given to various objects that Rosetta handles.

Thanks for pointing this out! I am watching right now, will keep ears open.

(And already I'm noticng what you mean. Even the rustle of her borrowed blanket adds to the scene.)

[Edited to add...]

I guess this is a good enough place to add what I logged in to add, given that it is about sound-- I was laughing at the scene where Riquet plays the recording of his drum practice for her. It's hilarious because it sucks soo hard. :D And he is so desperately wanting to impress her... he assures her "it sounds better with the music" and indeed, when the band chimes in,. his drumming vastly improves.

Since it seems that one of the points of the film is the interdependance of people, and the peril of denying it, do you think this moment is a little mini allegory?

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I think the Dardenne brothers are closer to Maurice Pialat than Robert Bresson.

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer

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