Regardless, did Méliès foreshadow the European Union? Or are things simply as they appear on the surface - a fun movie with an arbitrary number of beautiful ladies. Note that the women's dresses each become modernized and conformed between each other near the end, but before that happens, their garb is briefly changed to that of antiquity, eliciting a bow of praise from Melies. Then, before making his own dramatic exit, Melies conjures a sign that reads, "Galathea Theatre". This is a reference to the Greek myth of Pygmalion, the sculptor who fell in love with his statue of Galatea, and was eventually granted a wish (thanks to the goddess, Venus): the ivory sculpture was brought to life as a woman of flesh and blood.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
May Days of Melies - Ten Ladies in One Umbrella [La parapluie fantastique] (1903)
One possible theory about this work which makes it more than just a well-executed trick film: the 10 ladies under a single umbrella could be symbolic of the potential for peace within a unified Europe, led by their 10 most prominent nations at the time. Notice the variations in the original set of "maiden" costumes. Perhaps before the film print deteriorated over time, we could have more easily differentiated between the specific countries represented. Color would have also been beneficial.
Regardless, did Méliès foreshadow the European Union? Or are things simply as they appear on the surface - a fun movie with an arbitrary number of beautiful ladies. Note that the women's dresses each become modernized and conformed between each other near the end, but before that happens, their garb is briefly changed to that of antiquity, eliciting a bow of praise from Melies. Then, before making his own dramatic exit, Melies conjures a sign that reads, "Galathea Theatre". This is a reference to the Greek myth of Pygmalion, the sculptor who fell in love with his statue of Galatea, and was eventually granted a wish (thanks to the goddess, Venus): the ivory sculpture was brought to life as a woman of flesh and blood.
Regardless, did Méliès foreshadow the European Union? Or are things simply as they appear on the surface - a fun movie with an arbitrary number of beautiful ladies. Note that the women's dresses each become modernized and conformed between each other near the end, but before that happens, their garb is briefly changed to that of antiquity, eliciting a bow of praise from Melies. Then, before making his own dramatic exit, Melies conjures a sign that reads, "Galathea Theatre". This is a reference to the Greek myth of Pygmalion, the sculptor who fell in love with his statue of Galatea, and was eventually granted a wish (thanks to the goddess, Venus): the ivory sculpture was brought to life as a woman of flesh and blood.
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