The Lost Noir Classic Drowned Shadows (1966)
The story of a lost French New Wave noir classic film.
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Title: Drowned Shadows (1966)
Genre: French New Wave NoirSummary:
Drowned Shadows (1966) is a paradigm of French New Wave noir cinema, set in the shadowy realms of Paris during the tumultuous 1960s. The film weaves the captivating tale of René Dubois, an ex-criminal who turned informant, now trapped in a labyrinth of love, deception, and retribution.
René Dubois, portrayed by the enigmatic François Marceau, is irresistibly drawn back into the criminal underworld by his former flame, Isabelle (a captivating performance by Vivienne Rocher). Isabelle persuades René to join a high-risk heist planned by her new accomplice, the ruthless and shrewd Antoine (an unforgettable role by Michel Durand).
Tensions mount as the heist unfolds, culminating in a chilling act of treachery. Antoine, with calculated coldness, attempts to drown René in the Seine, aiming to remove him from the picture and claim his part of the bounty. However, Antoine is unaware that René survives this deadly encounter and is now on a vengeful path.
Drowned Shadows employs groundbreaking cinematic techniques, including fragmented editing, sudden jump cuts, and a haunting jazz score. These elements, in conjunction with the compelling performances of its lead actors, create a lingering sense of unease and suspense throughout the film.
The climax of Drowned Shadows is a potent mix of suspense and poetic justice. René, having traced and confronted his traitorous friends, exacts his revenge in a dramatic, rain-soaked finale. He reclaims what is rightfully his but tragically loses Isabelle in the process.
A definitive piece of the French New Wave movement, Drowned Shadows (1966) provides a thrilling exploration of loyalty, love, and revenge set within a world of moral ambiguity. The haunting scene of betrayal and attempted drowning cements this film's status as an enduring classic of cinema history.
Movie stills from the classic French new wave film Drowned Shadows (1966):
Some IMDB trivia about Drowned Shadows (1966):
François Marceau, who played René Dubois in "Drowned Shadows", was originally not the first choice for the role. The director Alain Mercier initially wanted to cast another well-known French actor, but after a chance meeting with Marceau at a café in Paris, he changed his mind and offered him the lead role.
The iconic near-drowning scene was shot on location in the Seine River. The water was so cold during filming that the actors had to take frequent breaks to avoid hypothermia.
The eerie experience François Marceau had during the shooting of the near-drowning scene wasn't in the original script. It was added to the film after Marceau shared his experience with director Alain Mercier.
From the esteemed film history book "Lumière in the Shadows: A Journey through French New Wave Cinema" by renowned film historian Jean-Luc Moreau:
While filming the pivotal near-drowning scene for "Drowned Shadows", actor François Marceau had to submerge himself in the chilly waters of the Seine River, playing the character of René Dubois. This was meant to be a straightforward scene, but it took an unexpected twist.
Marceau, immersed in the river's depths, experienced a moment of profound disorientation. As he was underwater, he felt a strange connection to the river, as if it was trying to communicate with him. He had a sense of being surrounded by shadowy presences, reminiscent of the "drowned shadows" referenced in the film's title.
When Marceau resurfaced, he was visibly unsettled. He recounted his unusual experience to the crew, describing the sensation of not being alone underwater and the feeling of the river "speaking" to him. This intrigued director Alain Mercier who, although initially surprised, decided to weave this uncanny experience into the narrative, adding a further layer of depth and intrigue to the film's storyline.
Stills from the infamous underwater dream sequence of Drowned Shadows (1966):
More IMDB trivia:
In an odd coincidence, while filming "Drowned Shadows", the crew reported numerous instances of equipment mysteriously malfunctioning whenever they shot the scenes by the Seine River. This led to rumors of a "Seine Phantom" haunting the set.
François Marceau, who played René Dubois, reportedly slept with a copy of the script under his pillow throughout the filming, claiming it helped him "absorb" his character's motivations in his dreams.
Director Alain Mercier insisted on shooting the film during the "witching hour" (midnight to 1 am) as much as possible. He believed it added an extra layer of tension and mystery to the scenes.
More IMDB trivia:
The film's haunting jazz score was reportedly composed during a single, all-night session. Composer Henri Leclair claimed the melodies came to him in a dream, and he woke up to write them down.
Legend has it that during the filming, a fortune teller predicted that "Drowned Shadows" would become a classic of French New Wave cinema. Despite the skepticism of many cast and crew members, her prediction turned out to be true.
Despite its success, "Drowned Shadows" was initially met with resistance from several film distributors who felt that the movie's unconventional narrative style and complex themes would not appeal to mainstream audiences. The film later became a cornerstone of French New Wave cinema.
More IMDB trivia:
Phil Collins' hit song "In the Air Tonight" was inspired by "Drowned Shadows". In an interview, Collins revealed that the movie's intense near-drowning scene profoundly affected him. The line, "Well, if you told me you were drowning, I would not lend a hand," is a clear nod to the film's pivotal moment of betrayal.
The film's title "Drowned Shadows" was inspired by a poem Alain Mercier read in his youth. He felt that the title encapsulated the film's themes of deception, hidden motives, and the darkness lurking beneath the surface of human relationships.
The black cat that mysteriously appears in several scenes throughout the movie wasn't originally part of the script. It kept wandering onto the set during filming, and director Alain Mercier decided to incorporate it into the film, calling it a "good omen".
From an interview with Drowned Shadows (1966) director Alain Mercier in the October 1972 issue of Playboy Magazine:
Interviewer: "Alain, your film, Drowned Shadows, has captivated audiences and critics alike. Can you share some insights about the ideas and the stylistic choices that went into the film?"
Alain Mercier: "Well, you know, it's like when I was a child, I used to have this recurring dream. I was wandering through a misty forest, and each tree was like a story, a fragment of a tale. But the forest was vast and the mist thick, so I could never see the entire story, only bits and pieces. I believe 'Drowned Shadows' is akin to that dream forest. It's the misty fragments, the whispering trees, the unseen paths."
Interviewer: "That's quite an abstract way to look at it. Can you elaborate on the fragmented narrative and the use of the Seine River in the film?"
Alain Mercier: "Ah, rivers. As a child, I lived near a small stream. I'd spend hours gazing into its waters, fascinated by the way it constantly changed and yet remained the same. The ripples on the surface, the silent currents beneath. It was like a dance, a melody, a story without words. The Seine, in 'Drowned Shadows', is that stream from my childhood. It's the silent storyteller, the dancing melody, the wordless narrative."
Interviewer: "But surely, there's some meaning, some message you intended to communicate?"
Alain Mercier: "I believe every viewer brings their own meaning to a film. 'Drowned Shadows' is a canvas, and every viewer paints their own picture on it. My job is merely to provide the colors and the brushes, not to tell them what to paint."
Final IMDB trivia facts:
Despite the cultural significance and critical acclaim of "Drowned Shadows", no complete copies of the film exist today. This unfortunate circumstance stems from a disastrous fire in 1984 at the film's primary storage facility, which resulted in the destruction of many original film negatives, including that of "Drowned Shadows". Despite exhaustive efforts by film preservation societies and the original production studio, no other complete copies have been located, making "Drowned Shadows" one of the most sought-after lost films of French New Wave cinema.
While "Drowned Shadows" itself remains lost, a set of film stills was unexpectedly discovered in 1990. These were found submerged in a sealed container within the Seine River, near the very location where the infamous near-drowning scene was shot. The container's contents, remarkably well-preserved, offered a tantalizing glimpse into the lost film. This unexpected discovery has sparked numerous theories, from fans speculating that it was a symbolic act related to the film's themes, to wilder conjectures about the river itself preserving its own 'drowned shadows'. This mysterious find has only deepened the film's enigmatic allure in the annals of French New Wave cinema.
Despite its disappearance, "Drowned Shadows" has had an undeniable influence on a multitude of artists and filmmakers. Directors such as Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, and Sofia Coppola have publicly acknowledged its impact on their work. Additionally, contemporary artists like Marina Abramović and Olafur Eliasson have referenced the film's ethereal quality and thematic darkness in their installations. Even in music, echoes of "Drowned Shadows" can be found, with the previously mentioned Phil Collins and artists like Thom Yorke and Björk noting its influence on their atmospheric compositions. The film's enduring legacy, despite its physical absence, testifies to its timeless resonance and impact.