Orphée (1950)

Director: Jean Cocteau

Stars: Jean Marais, François Périer, María Casares
Runtime: 95 minutes

Synopsis: A poet in love with Death follows his unhappy wife into the underworld.

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10

Verdict: Jean Cocteau's Orphic trilogy is one I only recently learned about. And by recently, I mean after I've viewed the second installment titled "Orphée", released in 1950.

But thankfully, the film works on its own and can be experienced without watching its predecessor, which came out 20 years before it. It acts as a modern retelling of the Ancient Greek myth about a poet bearing the titular name who sees his wife taken by Death and decides to go to the Underworld to retrieve her. Powered by ingenious practical effects and an imposing performance by Jean Marais, the film takes a few detours from the original legend that work for its advantage. Its themes of immortality and rebirth almost make for a dream-like watch in which the essence of being a poet is shown through an overabundant use of mirrors, which play a pivotal and cleverly thought of role in the story.

If Greek mythology is of interest to you, I highly recommend checking out Jean Cocteau's "Orphée". It's a film that perfectly blends straightforward storytelling and poetic cinema and certainly one that made me reflect on its meaning for a while afterward. I can't wait to check out the other two films in the trilogy.  

FINAL GRADE: 8/10