DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID

France, 1965, 101 minutes, Black and white.
Jeanne Moreau, Georges Geret, Michele Piccoli.
Directed by Luis Bunuel.

The Diary of a Chambermaid is based on a novel by Octav Mirbeau. It was adapted for the screen by director Luis Bunuel along with his long-time writer Jean- Claude Carriere. There had been a previous film version based on a play from the novel by Jean Renoir in the 1940s, in Hollywood with Paulette Goddard and Burgess Meredith, before Renoir returned to France.

Bunuel was considered the father of surrealism in film, having collaborated with Salvador Dali in Un Chien Andalou. Bunuel worked in Mexico until the late 1950s with such masterpieces as El, Nazarin. When he returned to Europe, he was prolific during the 1960s and made a series of masterpieces including Viridiana, The Exterminating Angel, Simon of the Desert, Belle de Jour, The Milky Way and Tristana. This film comes between The Exterminating Angel and Simon of the Desert.

The film is set in fascist France. Joseph, the groundskeeper for an eccentric wealthy family, becomes involved in anti-Semitic and fascist movements. He is observed by one of the chambermaids, Celestine, played by Jeanne Moreau, who comes from sophisticated Paris. They observe what is happening in society, what is happening in the family, the national and local politics as well as the sexual politics of relationships within the house.

Bunuel was always interested in aspects of fascism having moved away from Spain during the 1930s. He is always interested in the hypocrisies of society at all levels and all classes. This is very evident in his range of films of the 1960s. He was to go on to direct The Phantom of Liberty and the Oscar-winning Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

Jeanne Moreau was at the early part of her career having appeared in such classic films as The Lovers and Jules and Jim. She was to continue in films for more than four decades. Michele Piccoli appeared in a number of Bunuel films, especially Belle de Jour.

1. The meaning and tone of the title? The fact that this was based on a classic story? The overall impact of the film for enjoyment and interest?

2. How important was the style of the film? The black and white Panavision scope, the techniques of editing, the locations, the house and the countryside details etc.?

3. How important was the personality of Jeanne Moreau for the central role and the impact of the film?

4. The class implications of the title? The class implications of the story and the comment on society?

5. What comment on society did this film make? A closed country society, the bourgeoisie, the external good manners, the interior corruption and decay? A blending of the modern and the old? The French atmosphere?

6. Comment on the structure of the film, the train trip into the village, the going out of the village at the end? The style of the maid giving the introductory tone to the film? eg. the cart-ride, the conversation, the glances, the dress etc.?

7. What comment was being made on the household? The master of the house and his philandering,. the wife and her Puritanism, the lack of relationship between the two, the discussions about sexuality, especially with the parish priest? The contribution of the father to the atmosphere of the house - his reading, Celestine serving him, the meals, the fetishism of the shoes? Celestine’s modelling them, the irony of his death? The relationship of all of them to the maid and her being a pivot to the household?

8. How well was the character of Celestine portrayed and explored? The good and evil in her? The effect that she had on people? As a maid serving, yet controlling? Her insight into the other characters?

9. The importance of the little Clare and her innocence? Her effect on Celestine? Her effect on Joseph?

10. How important was Joseph for the film? What kind of society did he represent? What values did he stand for? The fascist evil in him, the suppressed sexuality and violence? As seen through by Celestine? As a comment on the morality of the French bourgeoisie?

11. The visual presentation of the murder and its atmosphere and impact? The murder as an atmosphere of the decay and violence of this society? Its effect on Joseph? Its effect on Celestine and her returning?

12. What comment did the neighbour and Rose make on the film? The sexual relationship? The Captain's roving eye on Celestine? His hostility with the master of the house? The petty bickering?

13. The master's infidelity with the plain maid and the thematic comment that this made?

14. The picturing of the town and its customs and style, gossip, closed atmosphere, morals etc.? Joseph’s trial?

15. How did Celestine change during the film? Her insolence and deference, her good and evil, her championing of Clare, her treatment of Joseph?

16. How did Celestine change the life and attitudes of each of the principal characters?

17. How important for the film and its themes was Celestine's pretending of love for Joseph and her catching him?

18. How ironic was Celestine's marriage and the irony of the ending? What comment was being made by this?

19. The irony of Joseph and his lack of conviction and his success? His alignment with fascist-style politics and the future of France? How was this prepared for in the portrayal of Joseph?

20. How much of the film was meant to be taken as allegory, parable? As exploration of society? As personal psychological study? As a study of social and individual decay?