It’s been a while since punks have made an appearance within the cinematic arena, but Film Socialisme could be set to fill the gap.
The film is the latest to be released from legendary director Jean-Luc Godard and, at the age of 80, many are speculating that it might well be his last. It also received a fairly mixed reaction when it premièred at Cannes last year – much as you might expect from anything which goes some way to embody the spirit of punk. However, as the film gets it’s UK and US release, it seems that audiences are struggling to decipher it’s complex narrative and arguably ambitious themes.
Film Socialisme is described as being comprised of three ‘movements’. The first section of the film is set aboard a cruise ship, and depicts a variety of conversations which take place amongst the passengers. Many of these are not spoken in English, yet audiences are provided with fragmented subtitles to give a vague idea about what is being said, rather than a direct translation. Characters could be discussing anything from world politics to playing poker online, and the collage of accompanying images are often of little help in understanding the meaning of the dialogue. There’s even an unexpected, although not unwelcome, cameo appearance from punk songstress, Patti Smith – although, again, this does little in terms of offering any explanation as to the film’s general direction.
The second section of the film addresses certain issues much more directly, whilst continuing to remain relatively ambiguous in terms of general purpose within the narrative. Young siblings are seen summon their parents to appear before a ‘court of their childhood’, where they asked to provide answers on the concepts of liberty, equality and fraternity. Lastly, the film visits six world-renowned locations: Egypt, Palestine, Odessa, Hellas, Naples, and Barcelona, with a montage of iconic images.
It’s safe to same that most critics will agree that Film Socialisme is a complex project, and one that many will freely admit to being beyond their comprehension. But is that enough to make it punk? Let us know your thoughts below.