Stefan Zweig’s book, and Max Ophüls’s film, evoke thwarted passion and a lost world
Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskA century ago, in 1922, Zweig published his novella “Letter from an Unknown Woman”. Drenched in a feverish mood of doom-laden eroticism, it takes the form of a dying woman’s testament sent to the oblivious philanderer “whom I have always loved”. Her obsessive, unrequited passion has consumed a life that the Spanish flu will soon end.
On one level, this is a fanciful, masochistic melodrama. A woman sacrifices her whole existence to the fantasy version of a forgetful narcissist who “never recognised me”, even when the pair sleep together again after an encounter at a louche café. Yet Zweig’s grasp of the dynamics of romantic infatuation and its childhood roots—the “unknown woman” falls for her beloved, a writer, as a moonstruck 13-year-old—lent his story a mesmeric allure.
A quarter-century later, the book found a matchless interpreter in Max Ophüls. Born in Germany, the director made his name in the 1920s at the Burgtheater in Vienna and put out several German comedy films in the early 1930s. Like Zweig, he was Jewish, and like him Ophüls fled Europe as the Nazi menace intensified. The author and his wife, Lotte, committed suicide in Brazil in 1942.
Washed in mysterious twilight tints thanks to Franz Planer’s black-and-white cinematography, the film of 1948 showcases the sinuous pans and tracking shots that were Ophüls’s hallmark. His ever-roving camera dissolves fixed points of view into a Freudian shadow-play of perspectives and illusions. Howard Koch’s screenplay alters plot details: the man becomes a pianist; after her son’s birth the woman—a superb Joan Fontaine—marries respectably rather than working as a high-class courtesan.
Written in the aftermath of world war and pandemic, gorgeously filmed by central-European exiles in the wake of a second, genocidal conflict, “Letter from an Unknown Woman” shows how the “child’s magic realm” of romantic illusion can overshadow, and curse, a life. For later viewers and readers, it conjures another lost, enchanted kingdom too: the bittersweet Vienna of its birth.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
SARAH VINE: Why I am gripped by this eternal tale of love turned sourSARAH VINE: Forget Anatomy Of A Scandal, forget the new series of Sewing Bee. For me, there's only been one show in town this week: the Amber and Johnny show.
Consulte Mais informação »
Love Island's Laura Whitmore responds to 'not a great host' claimLove Island's Laura Whitmore responds to contestant Rachel Finni's claim that she's 'not a great host'
Consulte Mais informação »
Heartstopper’s Joe Locke: ‘Lots of queer teenagers feel like they don’t deserve love’The 18-year-old star of Netflix’s most joyous series tells Ellie Harrison about being picked out of 10,000 teenagers for the role, and how ‘Heartstopper’ is an optimistic alternative to ‘Euphoria’
Consulte Mais informação »
Sunday with Paloma Faith: ‘I love a hot bath’The singer on early starts with small children, chocolate crêpes and the joy of a good long soak
Consulte Mais informação »
Pogba ‘fallen out of love with Man United’ and will start shining again for new clubPaul Pogba will become the world-beating player Manchester United thought they bought… but only when he leaves the club this summer. That’s according to Tony Cascarino, who claims the midfielder ha…
Consulte Mais informação »
Inside Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez’ unexpercted love storyAs the Portuguese footballer and his reality TV girlfriend announce the tragic death of their baby son, Amy Francombe takes a look back at their relationship
Consulte Mais informação »