I’m confused. Are you asking us to provide a title that’s “more tragic” or “more beautiful in soundtrack” or just like encouraging us to praise this film to the heavens. Cause I could probably do both.
1. “Best” is a matter of opinion, not judgement.
“Forbidden Games” is better than, say, “Moulin Rouge” (either one) but not necessarily, say, “Bride of Frankenstein” or “Detour” which are both tragic in other ways. Ranking is less interesting than discussing.
2. It’s a devastatingly beautiful film. For sure.
Peasants?
Anthony-
I don’t believe I used the word “best.” in my question.
My question doesn’t concern titles.
If you rank Detour, Frankenstein and Moulin Rouge in the same league as Forbidden Games, I fear we are definitely not on the same page, possibly not even in the same hymnal.
Cheers
Anthony-
Right. Peasants. P-E-A-S-A-N-T-S
A medium-sized bird of the ornithological sub-species Phasianidae, closely related to the quail, partridge and grouse.
Rhymes with PEASANTS, a human rather than ornithological sub-species.
Utterly delicious, but must be prepared by an expert or they dry rapidly during cooking.
Baste every TEN minutes.
Enjoy, with a nice, well-chiilled California Chardonnay.
I begin with sliced, smoked wild salmon on toast with a twist of lemon, and maybe a dollop of Beluga caviar on the side. Beluga’s only $3,200 per 4 ounces these days – cheap at twice the price.
Finish up with Rocquefort and butter, then Movenpick strawberry ice cream – I have mine flown in from Zurich monthly.
And (why not?) two good capucinos and a large snifter of Corvoisier Gold – TWO, actually: life is short.
OK, pheasants?
.
Gordon Ackerman, 1 hour ago – “My question doesn’t concern titles”
Gordon Ackerman, 1 day ago – “If FORBIDDEN GAMES (Les Jeux Interdits) isn’t the most tragic story ever told, right up there with Romeo and Juliet, then what is?”
Since the initial question is obviously loaded (no matter what anyone answers, they’ll be wrong unless it’s “Forbidden Games”), maybe it would help for you to discuss what it is that you find so tragic about this movie. Or maybe the discussion could be opened up to what constitutes tragedy for you and other auteurs members.
Off the top of my head, I can think of at least a few titles that can compete with “Forbidden Games” for sheer tragedy. “Bicycle Thieves”, “The Passion of Joan of Arc”, “Strozeck”, “The House of Sand and Fog”….
Gordon Ackerman, 1 hour ago – “My question doesn’t concern titles”
Gordon Ackerman, 1 day ago – “If FORBIDDEN GAMES (Les Jeux Interdits) isn’t the most tragic story ever told, right up there with Romeo and Juliet, then what is?”
Since the initial question is obviously loaded (no matter what anyone answers, they’ll be wrong unless it’s “Forbidden Games”), maybe it would help for you to discuss what it is that you find so tragic about this movie. Or maybe the discussion could be opened up to what constitutes tragedy for you and other auteurs members.
Off the top of my head, I can think of at least a few titles that can compete with “Forbidden Games” for sheer tragedy. “Bicycle Thieves”, “The Passion of Joan of Arc”, “Strozeck”, “The House of Sand and Fog”….
I apologize — replace “best” in my post with “most _____”. Sure.
And my point was: if you want to say something is the “most tragic,” you have to, well, qualify it. What exactly does that mean? I wasn’t just being arbitrary — I really consider Bride of Frankenstein and Detour to be tragic films. (The new Moulin Rouge is so-so; the older one’s better.)
But I’d never suppose they’re the most tragic out there. The “most of” anything either doesn’t exist or can’t be agreed on.
For the record: Forbidden Games was a really heart-breaking movie — turning it off and sitting in front of the tv was a pretty devastating few minutes. Even thinking back on it is utterly despairing.
Anthony-
If the tragedy of Forbidden Games isn’t reaily visible to you then I could hardly define it.
I do not watch films such as Moulin Rouge, Bridge of Frankenstein or Detour.
One of my several failings, I guess.
I lived most of my life in France so perhaps I am more sensitive than you to Forbidden Games.
Cheers
While it was certainly tragic, I found many parts charmingly funny. The graveyard scene was hilarious. I also found that a lot of the family dynamic sensitively observed and comical too.
Just thought I’d throw that out there.
Gordon X.
You’re very observant. The graveyard scene was probably the principal topic of conversation in France for months after the film was released.
At that point in French history, not long after WW2, the political Left and Right were at each other’s throat.
The graveyard was interpreted as a micocosm of the grander, nationwide French political struggle.
Cheers
Forbidden Games is a good movie, but most tragic ever? Gotta be Umberto D. Best score? The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (followed by Once Upon a Time in the West).
I found the most shocking moment of the film was near the beginning when the mother tosses the girl’s dog in the lake as if it were a plush toy.
Gordon Ackerman
If FORBIDDEN GAMES (Les Jeux Interdits) isn’t the most tragic story ever told, right up there with Romeo and Juliet, then what is?
If it doesn’t have the most beautiful music track in film history, tell me a better one.
When watching it, keep in mind WWII and the Nazi occupation of France.
Cheers, Peasants
PS – The little girl in this film emigrated to the U.S. soon after the film was released in France in the early 50s, and she still shows up from time to time on television. Brigitte Fossey…..