(c) Photofest / Getty Images
“Delicatessen” Rhythmically plays the despair of the future⁉︎ Genius Genet’s masterpiece black comedy
2024.02.20
What is the origin of the legendary bathroom scene?
Now, when looking at this film from a bird's-eye view, one thing you can't overlook is the presence of "water." As the world is enveloped in a yellow, hazy air, the apartment in which the film is set gradually becomes wetter from the beginning. This becomes a barometer, and at the climax, the water level rises and rises, causing the internal structure of the apartment to collapse with such force that it seems to purify all chaos.
Particularly important is the scene where the hero and heroine take refuge in the bathroom and turn the tap on full blast to release as much water as possible. In the DVD commentary, Jeunet says, "I thought this idea was Caro's original, but then I found a similar scene in a Laurel and Hardy comedy. Maybe Caro had seen it before and completely forgotten about it."
"Delicatessen" (c)Photofest / Getty Images
I tried searching for a related work and found Laurel and Hardy's "Brats" (30). It has a brilliant climax in which the children turn on the faucet in the bathroom every night, and the accumulated water eventually pours in through the door. There may indeed be some kind of connection here.
Laurel & Hardy: Brats
However, this classic comedy might remind some people more of the live-action version of Paddington (2014) than of Delicatessen, with the main character, the bear, filling an unfamiliar bathroom with water, which then flows out with great force, just like the scene in which the bathtub is filled with water.
In fact, Paul King, who directed " Paddington ," is a big fan of Jeunet's work (*2). In fact, his latest film, "Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (23), was inspired in large part by "Delicatessen." Indeed, when you think about it, a number of similarities come to mind, such as the art sets and quirky characters. Also, the part in which the black market trades cocoa beans, the raw material for chocolate, is very similar to how lentils and corn are used as cash in "Delicatessen."
This is just my speculation, but perhaps King, who is a fan of Jeunet, came across the idea of the bathroom through "Delicatessen" (and Jeunet's audio commentary), and then traced it back to Laurel and Hardy's "Brats." If you're interested, I encourage you to compare the scenes and make your own interpretations.
Packed with things that Genet and Caro love, and with their own unique creativity, Delicatessen shines with a mysterious dark light. It has been injecting fresh stimulation and surprises into people for more than 30 years now. There is no doubt that it will continue to have a huge impact on viewers in the future.
*1)http://www.jpjeunet.com/GB/when-harvey-weinstein/
Other references:
"Delicatessen" DVD (audio commentary by Genet)
https://www.hammertonail.com/interviews/a-chat-with-jean-pierre-jeunet/
Text: USHIZU ATSUNOBU
Born in Nagasaki in 1977. When he was 3 years old, he saw ``Superman II'' with his father and became fascinated with movies. After The Graduate from Meiji University, he worked for a movie broadcasting channel and then became a movie writer. Currently, in addition to writing for Eiga.com, EYESCREAM, Real Sound Movie Club, etc., he also contributes to media press and theater programs.
(c) Photofest / Getty Images
Follow official SNS
