Notre musique
Encyclopedia
Notre musique is a 2004 film
directed by Jean-Luc Godard
. The film reflects on violence, morality, and the representation of violence in film, and touches especially on past colonialism
and the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict
. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
.
; the film's three segments are titled "Realm 1: Hell", "Realm 2: Purgatory", and "Realm 3: Heaven".
The first segment is a relatively brief, non-narrative montage composed of war footage, propaganda footage, and battle scenes from fictional films, constantly intercut, and accompanied by classical piano.
The second segment, which is relatively straightforwardly narrative, makes up the bulk of the film. It tells the story of two young women visiting a European arts conference in Sarajevo
: Judith Lerner (Sarah Adler), a journalist from Tel Aviv
, and Olga Brodsky (Nade Dieu), a French-speaking Jew of Russian descent. Judith interviews the poet Mahmoud Darwish
(played by himself) at the conference, and surveys the city, visiting the Mostar
bridge, where she reads Emmanuel Levinas
(Entre Nous). Olga makes a digital-video film of the conference, is visited by her uncle Ramos Garcia (Rony Kramer), who is translating for the conference, and attends a lecture on film by Godard (who plays himself). The Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo
also appears as himself.
The third segment, a brief postlude, shows Olga walking contemplatively through a quiet lakeside setting which appears to be guarded by American soldiers.
reported that 65% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 52 reviews. Metacritic
reported the film had an average score of 77 out of 100, based on 19 reviews.
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
. The film reflects on violence, morality, and the representation of violence in film, and touches especially on past colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
and the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
2004 Cannes Film Festival
The 2004 Cannes Film Festival started on May 12 and ran until May 23. The Palme d'Or went to the American film Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore.-Jury:* Quentin Tarantino, President * Emmanuelle Béart * Edwidge Danticat * Tilda Swinton...
.
Plot
The film's tripartite structure is apparently inspired by the Divine Comedy of DanteDante Alighieri
Durante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...
; the film's three segments are titled "Realm 1: Hell", "Realm 2: Purgatory", and "Realm 3: Heaven".
The first segment is a relatively brief, non-narrative montage composed of war footage, propaganda footage, and battle scenes from fictional films, constantly intercut, and accompanied by classical piano.
The second segment, which is relatively straightforwardly narrative, makes up the bulk of the film. It tells the story of two young women visiting a European arts conference in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
: Judith Lerner (Sarah Adler), a journalist from Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, and Olga Brodsky (Nade Dieu), a French-speaking Jew of Russian descent. Judith interviews the poet Mahmoud Darwish
Mahmoud Darwish
Mahmoud Darwish was a Palestinian poet and author who won numerous awards for his literary output and was regarded as the Palestinian national poet...
(played by himself) at the conference, and surveys the city, visiting the Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
bridge, where she reads Emmanuel Levinas
Emmanuel Lévinas
Emmanuel Levinas was a Lithuanian-born French Jewish philosopher and Talmudic commentator.-Life:Emanuelis Levinas received a traditional Jewish education in Lithuania...
(Entre Nous). Olga makes a digital-video film of the conference, is visited by her uncle Ramos Garcia (Rony Kramer), who is translating for the conference, and attends a lecture on film by Godard (who plays himself). The Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo
Juan Goytisolo
Juan Goytisolo is a Spanish poet, essayist, and novelist. He currently lives in a voluntary self-exile in Marrakech.-Background:Juan Goytisolo was born to an aristocratic family...
also appears as himself.
The third segment, a brief postlude, shows Olga walking contemplatively through a quiet lakeside setting which appears to be guarded by American soldiers.
Critical reception
The film received generally positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 65% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 52 reviews. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported the film had an average score of 77 out of 100, based on 19 reviews.
Awards and nominations
- European Film Awards
- Nominated: Best ActressEuropean Film Award for Best Actress-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-External links:*...
(Sarah Adler) - Nominated: Best Screenwriter (Jean-Luc Godard)
- Nominated: Best Actress
- San Sebastián Film FestivalSan Sebastián International Film FestivalThe San Sebastián International Film Festival is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of San Sebastián .-History:The festival was founded in 1953...
(Spain)- Won: FIPRESCI Film of the Year (Jean-Luc Godard)