CYRANO DE BERGERAC
France, 1990, 138 minutes, Colour.
Gerard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez.
Jean- Paul Rappeneau.
Cyrano de Bergerac is a beautifully lavish version of Edmond Rostand's classic play. It had been filmed in the United States by Michael Gordon in 1950; Jose Ferrer won the Oscar for best actor for his role. (Gerard Depardieu was nominated in 1990 for his performance in the role.)
The film was directed by Jean-Paul? Rappeneau and moves on the epic scale, especially with the siege of Arras. However, the film is equally vivid in its romantic sequences, both the courting of Roxanne as well as Roxanne and Cyrano in later years.
The film is beautifully designed, has a lush musical score. Depardieu was named as the winner of the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990.
1.The acclaim for the film and its awards?
2.The work of Edmond Rostand, status in French theatre and culture? The character of Cyrano de Bergerac amongst the French? The many versions of the play? The American film version?
3.Translating the play to the screen, pruning the text, adding Rostand-like verses, the Alexandrine verse and the performance of the verse by the cast, novelist Anthony Burgess's rhyming couplets for the subtitles? The opening up of the play with exteriors, the battles?
4.The opening with the atmosphere of France in the 17th century, the homes, families going to the theatre, the theatre itself, the audience and their costumes and the decor of the theatre? The city, homes? The pastry cook’s shop? The battlefields? Authentic atmosphere? Stunt work?
5.Gerard Depardieu and his presence, his acting awards, his physical presence, his famous nose? The bravado, the poignancy, the reciting of the verse? Cyrano as a flamboyant character, romantic, angry, loving? His satirical writing on French society?
6.The boy going to the theatre, the family, the opening of the film in the theatre, the audience and their noisiness, Roxanne and the men attending her, the performance of the play, the baroque style, the interruption, Cyrano and his attacks, the verse, the challenges, the fight, the duel?
7.Cyrano as a strong figure, his type, his writings? The bravado and wit? His relationship with Roxanne, in love with her - from afar? Her taking him for granted? Her love for Christiane, Christiane's coming to Cyrano for help, Christiane as Cyrano's vehicle for declaring his love?
8.The love story and its complexity? Christiane and his appearance, the contrast with Cyrano, yet mute in expressing his feelings? His awkwardness with words and declarations? Cyrano and his verse, the letters, sending them, Roxanne fainting? The parallel with Romeo and Juliet, Christiane's awkwardness, Cyrano's voice and passion? The going to the war, Cyrano and his protecting Christiane? On the battlefield, the fight, hunger? The writing of the letters and Cyrano's posting them, going through the dangerous fields? Christiane, his death? The last letter?
9.Roxane and her strength, her beauty, her place in the town, the men attending on her, her rejecting of them, her attraction towards Christiane, receiving the letter, fainting? Her response to Christiane's letters? Her taking Cyrano for granted? The Comte de Guiche and his attentions, her rejection? Going to battle, her going with the pastry cook to the battlefield? Involved in the battle, the food, the Spanish? Christiane and his death, her grief?
10.The Comte de Guiche, his authority, vanity, his hopes, at the theatre, visiting Roxanne, taking command of the troops, his revenge, Christiane and Cyrano, the criticisms of Cyrano, at war, the battles? His later visit to Cyrano and his apology?
11.The pastry cook, the talents in his shop, his wife, his verses, subversive? Place in the town, going with Roxanne to the battle, helping the troops?
12.The staging of the battle sequences, the men under siege, the hunger? The singing of the patriotic and romantic song? The raids, the coming of the Spaniards, religion, the Mass and the blessing? The attack and the fighting?
13.Roxane and the passing of the years, Saturdays and her visit to Cyrano, the Comte de Guiche and his coming to warn Cyrano about his satire and writings? Cyrano and his walking the town, the cowardly attack? Coming back for his visit, the sisters in the convent? The finale - the speaking of the letter, Roxanne’s realisation of Cyrano's love, the romantic ending, Cyrano's death?
14.The perennial popularity of the story - the flamboyant and dashing character, seemingly unattractive, the inner poet, the love for the woman and using the handsome man as the mouthpiece? The passing of the years? The declaration of true love?
