Le testament d'Orphée, ou ne me demandez pas pourquoi! (1960)

Director:

Jean Cocteau

Writer:

Jean Cocteau (writer)

Release Date:

18 February 1960 (France)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

The Poet looks back over his life and work, recalling his inspirations and obsessions.

Plot Keywords:

Poet | Judge | Spanish | Author Character Relationship | Beefcake

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Jean Cocteau

...

Himself - the Poet

Also Known As:

Le testament d'Orphée (France) (poster title)
The Testament of Orpheus (USA)

Runtime:

Germany:79 min | UK:83 min | USA:79 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | West Germany:16 (w)

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Cinédis

Trivia:

Cocteau's last film.

Quotes:

Himself - the Poet: And the flower?
Cégeste: Take it to her. After all, the goddess is a woman and women never object to being offered flowers

Movie Connections:

Follows Orphée (1950)

This movie shows what a movie can be and should be.

Although the elements involved in the last part of the trilogy (of course it's a trilogy!) are same, the movie is brilliant in the way it deal and approaches with a poet's final years. I loved the self-reference to the earlier versions and to Jean cocteau himself. The film touches A film inside a film, a stage inside a stage, a life inside a life, a body inside a body and ofcourse a world inside a world. This is a "timeless" classic. No pun intended. This just my first viewing, I intend to see it again and again. One interesting thing (a speculation) is the BULLET from the future world. I wonder whether James cameroon got inspired from this idea to come up with "The Terminator".

Personally, I was always interested by the idea of NO TIME. This movie touches the possible cyclic nature of the time and sometime it even goes even further suggesting that -- ALL TIMES reside within ONE or NONE -- Well we're not supposed to understand it :) I loved the dig at intellectuals.

I would recommend this movie to all surrealist and anybody who has the eternal question -- WHY?! This movie is not an answer nor it asks question. Just OBEY the natural laws and see the movie :)

9/10