Just watched the Criterion version and LOVED it!. I came here thinking there would be some great comments and.......nothing
First, this is by Louis Malle (Pretty Baby). Second, it stars an adorable girl (sadly with no rff moments). It is hilarious and the english subs were perfect. My face was smiling the whole movie. Also co-stars Philippe Noiret, the killer pedo from "Le témoin".
This merry farce depicts a satirical view of the French society: Ten-year-old Zazie has to stay two days with her relatives in Paris, so that her mother can spend some time with her lover. However Zazie escapes her uncle's custody and sets out to explore Paris on her own.
Such a different style from Malle then Pretty Baby, Au Revior Le Enfants, Murmer of the Heart which were serious, and more in line with Black Moons oddness (however a much more coherent storyline). Some scenes in Zazie were literally plucked from Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry. Apparently the first assistant director did his college studies in animation, Tex Avery specifically. Malle asked him to write down his favorite cartoon scenes and they translated that to some live action scenes.
donkeykog wrote:Some scenes in Zazie were literally plucked from Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry.
AFAIK it was a tribute to Charlie Chaplin.
Totally wtf movie and one of my favs. I've got both VHS and DVD. Wonder if it's on bluray yet
Re: [REL] Zazie dans le métro (1960)
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:33 am
by donkeykog
It is definitely on Blu-ray.
The Criterion has a great 2005 short documentary with the first asst. director in Paris where he give great info including what I wrote on the "Tom and Jerry" scenes.
It also has an interview with a super young Malle, discussing what Mimzy said on Chaplin and how Louis got to screen the movie for Chaplin in Switzerland, and although there were no subs Chaplin enjoyed it.
Another interview with the girl who played Zazie. She was not very talkative, one word answers, but I blame the interviewer who is not good at his job of working information out of the interviewee and making them comfortable. He does a short interview with the parents too, and the father is super stiff, the mother seems the most comfortable.
All in all, very interesting.
Mimzy, I am absolutely also adding this to my fav list! What is AFAIK?