The Love Of Jeanne Ney: A Cinematic Journey Through Romance and Tragedy

What would one expect society to become after a civil war? Such questions can be answered by the film “The Love of Jeanne Ney, by G.W. Pabst (1927).” Past is one of the film directors who was able to shoot some movie in the 1920`s successfully. His movies have common characteristics such as political and social views, and psychological insight into issues. The film was premiered in Berlin in 1927. It was a translated version of a Ukranian journalist who had spent several years in Russia. The film provides a link between the west culture and Soviet culture. The film, helps one understand the realism of the post-war.

    The film provides an exciting filmic experience. It is a film that often leaves the audience in a dilemma. It is dreamy and at the same time, realistic. The film is practical since the plot is done during the post-war. The first statement of the film states that ”After the Russian revolution, civil war rages in the Crimea, bringing in its wake chaos and misery and unscrupulous men” (4shared.com - Free File Sharing and Storage). Therefore, the setting was done during a certain period that can be traced back. However, some items in the movie are ridiculous making the film dreamy. During the opening scenes, there is a telephone directory. These level of intelligence was difficult to find during that time making the documentary one of the best films of that decade.

    Pabst uses various styles to increase the credibility and significance of the film. The time at which the plot was set, words used makes the film a significant piece that can explain more about history, words such as the Russian revolution and civil war in Crimea. The film can be used as a future reference by scholars who are interested in history. The film can be described as socio-political commentary. Thus, ”The Love of Jeanne Ney, by G.W. Pabst (1927)”, is a significant and credible film about the Postwar.

    Just like other cinemas, the film uses symbols to symbolize various words. The use of symbols in some cases are expected and others unexpected. Symbols have given the film more meaning. Symbols have also brought out emotions in the story. For example, a cigarette holder is used as a symbol of an arousing sexual desire. Flowers are used to showing how innocent one is, and a diamond is used for materialism. Thus, symbols have been excellently used in the film to bring out emotions.  

    The juxtaposition is a style that is used in the film. The director uses this style to create suspense and leave the audience with rhetorical questions. The director seems to understand that the audience understands things well if the items in question are compared to others. Material objects and places have been significantly juxtaposed to bring out different feelings in the movie. Parisian locations are seen as current locations while Les Halles morning can be described as energetic. The juxtaposition is not only seen in the difference in locations but also among characters. The two main characters, Edith Jehamme and Uno Henning, have a romantic affair which is juxtaposed by the wickedness of Fritz Rasp who is the conspirator. The nosiness of the unhappy bride is compared with the innocence of Jeanne`s cousin who is named Brigitte Helm. Therefore, juxtaposition is one of the styles evident to create suspense in the movie ”The Love of Jeanne Ney”.

    Several films try to relate themes with what happens in reality. Similarly, the film has used several items to show issues that affected society during that period. Such subjects include rape, murder, war, and injustice. The director uses these topics to show how they affect human beings. Below are how the arguments have been used to enhance the significance of the film.  The use of the theme rape has been used by the director to show how extreme greediness causes trouble for human beings. Khalibiev tries to rape Jeanne. Jeanne screams and Khalibiev tries to cover her in a handkerchief. Unfortunately, the handkerchief had a diamond that had been stolen by him. Jeanne reports him, and he is arrested. If Khalibiev, had not attempted to rape Jeanne, no one would have noted that he is a killer. Thus, Andreas would have stayed more in prison, and he would have stayed free. Rape, in this case, has been used to show the consequences of extreme greediness.

    Murder is a theme that is evident in the cinema. Just like in the society, characters kill one another to acquire possession of materials, love scandals, etc. for example, Khalibiev kills Raymond since he has a sexual desire for Jeanne and would also like to own the diamond. H.  also wants to kill Raymond`s blind daughter due to her crush on her. This situation can be interrelated with what happens in society. Killing people has become the easiest way for human beings to steal other people`s material wealth. Jealous partners in the organization have also found themselves killing their partner’s friends to have them. Thus, murder has been used to show what happens in the community. nbn

             Raymond being strangled to death.

In the society, there have been several instances where the guilty have walked scot-free while the innocent have been charged. In the movie, such situations are also there, where justice has not been served. The system has failed to provide justice to specific individuals. In the film, Andreas is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Khalibiev, on the other hand, has the freedom yet he is the culprit. Justice is not served in that case until the motive of the murder is found later. Thus, the director uses that injustice case to show what happens in society.

    Some of the settings in the film are used to show the effects of war. Some of the results include fleeing to other peaceful places. In the movie, some characters escape to Paris to get peace of mind. They include Jeanne, Andreas, and Khalibiev. This is one of the effect of war as illustrated by the film.

    Conclusion

    The film tries to explain what happens after a post-war. The film shows that struggling businesses, murder, rape, fleeing one`s place are some of the post effects of war. The film uses various techniques to enhance its mission such as symbolism, imagery, and juxtaposition. Though the fil is one of the exciting films of the 1920`s, critiques argue that the director was forced to adopt to the American style. Thus, the film lost its original taste. However, the film still retains its significance and credibility.

Works Cited

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