Dulac

I discovered Germaine Dulac’s work after watching La Souriante Madame Beudet last night, and I’m fascinated. This 1923 French Impressionist silent film left a poignant impression with its portrayal of a troubled marriage. The symbolic elements throughout the flick sparked my curiosity about Dulac’s cinematic style.  The mise-en-scène, along with the juxtaposition of the visual and narrative elements, transformed the film into a vivid exploration of the protagonist’s inner world—her daydreams and her quiet despair. The powerful closing scene encapsulates the disillusioned continuance of the marriage with the haunting line “United by Habit.”