Why hello end of September! Have you guys watched Delicatessen? What did you think?

In this post (the very first World Cinema Club discussion post!) I’m going to answer some questions that I asked myself during the film and then pose them to you in the comments. I want to know what you thought. Don’t be shy! And if you’ve got a film you’d just love to see shared as part of World Cinema Club then please do let me know!

Ok then, down to business. Let’s discuss Delicatessen!

What did you think of the colour throughout the film?

Personally, I always take an instant dislike to a film when I can’t quite see everything. Brokeback Mountain? No idea what’s going on! Too dark! At first I was feeling the same frustration with Delicatessen (although not to the same extent) but I put it down to the film being set in a post-apocalyptic world, and dust, fog etc filling the air. So I lived with it. At the end, when the sky cleared I appreciated the colour throughout the whole film just for that moment being able to happen, and I didn’t mind it as much.

Did you realise the frog man lived upstairs?

So I watched the film a couple of times as it was, meaning that the third time I watched I decided to add the audio commentary, which I don’t normally do. It turned out to be really interesting! Did you realise that the man with all the frogs and the snails in his apartment lived upstairs? I totally didn’t! According to the commentary, only Japanese audiences got that!

Before the Troglodistes appeared, how did you think the film was going to end?

Ok. So the one thing I didn’t like about this film was the Troglodistes. They kind of cheapened the whole thing for me. You know when you watch a pretty creepy horror movie and then the “scary thing” appears and it’s laughable and it ruins the whole thing. (For me, Jeepers Creepers is the perfect example here!) That was the Troglodistes for me. But then again, I really couldn’t see a possible ending until they appeared. It just felt like the film could have gone on for ages with the same routine, each person in the building gradually being picked off until there’s no one left. Kind of dull. And to be fair, the budget for this film was really low, so I’ll let them off with the Troglodistes.

Could you tell this was the same guy who directed Amélie?

Yes, yes, and yes. Firstly, he clearly has well established relationships with a few good actors who looked rather familiar in this film! Secondly, there’s a few little quirky bits that just had the same…vibe(?) as Amélie. Vibe really isn’t the word I want here. Now I accidentally sound like a surfer dude. Oops. Also, the grain. Remember when Amélie dips her hand in a bag of grain? (It’s one of my favourite bits.) Well, I love that there’s a grain theme here too, as bizarre as that may sound! Anyway, watching this really made me curious to check out other films by the same director.

Any favourite bits?

I loved the creativity of the sex scene. There’s a sentence I never thought I’d say. For me, (and this will sound pretentious, apologies) it showed how everyone living in the building was connected to each other. I felt establishing that bond, even if the bond is undesired, was really essential early on in the film because it wasn’t a case of them liking each other, but rather that they needed each other and all lived to a shared rhythm. I also really loved the scene when Louison goes to visit Julie in her apartment and she’s trying to serve him tea without her glasses. There’s something really cute about that scene!

Any bits you didn’t like?

As I said, I didn’t like the Troglodistes, but I see why they were necessary to help give the film an ending.

Finally, what would you rate the film out of 10 French flags?

Hmm…I think I’d have to go for 7 at a first viewing and then 8 on a second viewing. It’s a grower and it definitely, for me, has a charm.

Ok! That’s just what I think. What about you? Did you watch Delicatessen? I’d love to know your thoughts on the film. Answer one or all of the questions above in the comments and let’s chat!

Giveaway time!

Oh, and to celebrate the first month of World Cinema Club I’ve decided to hold a little giveaway!Due to the fact that Delicatessen was a French film, I’ve added a handful of French films, books and the like into the mix. There’s a feast of 6 Molière books, 4 DVDs (Spider, Après Vous, Le Mytho AND Delicatessen!), a handy verb guide from Harrap, and a brand new Collins Easy Learning Stage Two audio course. I’ve even got a few little extras I’ll throw in for you. Yay!

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is leave a comment telling me what your favourite French film is and why. Ready?…Go!

The Nitty Gritty

This giveaway is open to UK and international residents. Entrants are entitled to one entry per person. Entry closes at 23.59BST on Tuesday 14th October 2014. The winner will be picked at random on Wednesday 15th October 2014 and contacted via the email given on your Disqus account. If you do not have an email attached to your Disqus account (and alternatively do not provide one in the comment) then I will have to offer the prize to another entrant and pick another winner at random. The winner will be announced on the blog and/or social media should the winner give permission for me to do so. The prize will be dispatched from the UK within one week of the giveaway ending. If you are international, please be patient. There is no sponsorship or affiliate link to this giveaway. It’s purely out of good will! Some of the goods have been used and I’m now passing them on so that other language learners (that’s you!) can enjoy them before passing them on again. One last thing – due to the ratings of the films, you must be over 15 to enter. Thank you!