 La Belle et la BA te (Beauty and the Beast) ORIGINAL FRENCH [Criterion Collection] dvd movie. |
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La Belle et la BA te (Beauty and the Beast) ORIGINAL FRENCH [Criterion Collection]
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![La Belle et la BA te (Beauty and the Beast) ORIGINAL FRENCH [Criterion Collection]](/pictures/Belle-Beauty-Beast-ORIGINAL.jpg) |
Features
• Black & White
• Full Screen
• Import
• NTSC
• Subtitled
In Theaters : 1946 |
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La Belle et la BA te (Beauty and the Beast) ORIGINAL FRENCH [Criterion Collection] Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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Sumptuous Perfection
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Sheer curtains shimmer in hallways where characters float as if in a mist of dreams, appearing from velvety darkness. The sumptuous perfection of the black & white cinematography is a beauty even beyond the story, which is emotionally fulfilling and replete with contrasts of ethical significance. As with any great story, there are forces of darkness and light, a hero's journey and exciting moments of terror where the characters must overcome their deepest fears.
Both Belle and her father must overcome their fears in the dark forest where a magical castle is securely hidden amidst thick foliage. Here the Beast wanders in his anguish, knowing he can only escape his torment with a loving look. The possibility of this happening (of human kindness appearing in the dark treacherous life he leads) is so challenging a prospect; he almost seems to lose his mind in his impatience.
The sheer terror Belle experiences when she first sees the Beast, is subtlety softened by his carrying her up a winding set of stairs into a beautiful garden setting. The change of her costume in one scene creates magical elements as Jean Cocteau works his cinematic magic born of his fascination with mirrors, animated statues and the ability to escape time's constraints. Arms stretch out from walls holding candelabra and hands pour drinks from the middle of a table.
As with all of Jean Cocteau's work, you can see his influence appearing again and again throughout the history of cinema. Even Disney seems to have captured the magic from this movie and if you have an interest in the story of Beauty and the Beast, then Jean Cocteau's La Belle et la BA te is an essential experience. I can also highly recommend his Orphic Trilogy.
The Commentary versions are well-worth watching and you can end up spending the entire evening watching this three times and enjoying every moment. I will have to agree that even Belle seems to be disappointed by the appearance of the prince who seems too perfect and so much less of a challenge.
There is great beauty in the love Belle shows to the tortured soul of the Beast and in this is the true beauty of kindness. You can completely lose yourself in the magical perfection of this timeless classic.
~The Rebecca Review
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