Captain of a barge with the titled name, marries a young provincial girl and travels the waterways of France. Times are rough and life is not what she expected and after a rough patch she runs off. Eventually the pair are reunited to presumably live happily ever after.

First feature and final film by Jean Vigo who died not long after the films release. Its hailed as one of the great films of all time in various polls, and I for one am left to ponder why. Certainly I have my beef with any number of the "classics" of cinema, but more times than not I can walk away from the film and at least understand why someone would argue that say Citizen Kane is great film, even if I don't feel that way. Here I'm completely at a loss to explain why it's a great film. I suppose its all due to how someone connects or doesn't connect with the romance. I never really connected since I never saw what either person saw in the other. Okay yes I'm coming from a different time and place and how I look at romance and even relationships that become marriage is different but beyond that I saw nothing. For me there was too much to take on faith.

This isn't to say that L'atalante is a bad film, it's not, actually it's a good one, its just not a great one. If there is anything that is great about the film it's the photography. Shot on location on the barrage and the environs around it this film shows beautifully a time and a place. I love how the film looks and how it makes you feel how that you are there.

Is this worth seeing? Yes. I don't think it's a bad film, and if you strip away the useless and uncalled for baggage of this being one of the greatest films of all time its an enjoyable one. See it for itself and you'll have a good time, bringing anything else to the table will only serve to disappoint you.

L'Atalante (1934) : Brief Review -

I wonder how on earth this outdated and confused film became a French sensation? Whatever bad your definition of Greatest Film of All Time is, L'Atalante is still not enough to make it to the list. In my book i won't even like to mention this film ever after this review. One of the critic's review from the initial release says, "It's a confused, incoherent, willfully absurd, long, dull, commercially worthless film." I agree with this after knowing the good status film has carried till date. I really want to ask people that what did you actually see in it and forget Classic but why do you even call it a good film? A Newly married couple struggle through marriage as they travel on the L'atalante along with the captain's first mate Jules and a cabin boy. What was so there to adore? I mean what was there even take a note? The script was outdated even for its time as Hollywood had gone far ahead in 30s. This script might have been helpful in silent era and that too only to be called 'Good' in best case. L'Atalante doesn't even make conflict look reasonable. Look, the couple is travelling but nobody knows why. They dock at Paris and then wife suddenly starts fancying the other guy and the beautiful city forgetting all about her husband, what the heck? The partition scenario was so dumb amd confused that even small school-kids look more matured than the couple. There are many mistakes in plotting that cannot be forgiven but somehow relationship values and generous drama makes a decent film out of it. Dita Parlo and Jean Daste makes a good pair, at least bearable with the looks and acting even after such a disastrous writting. Jena Vigo doesn't stretch it much and thank god he doesn't or else it would have sunk at halfway only. Overall, it's a strictly average film with nothing great in it as said and it should/must be skipped.

RATING - 5/10*

By - #samthebestest

This is a visual treat. Despite its age, this is one of the prettiest looking black and white films--with creative use of gauze lenses, excellent scenic view and a real light touch throughout. However, while looking VERY advanced for its time, the sound was a serious problem in the restored version I recently saw on DVD. Many times throughout the film, the movie looks like a silent movie with sounds hastily tacked on later. This may be due to the director's untimely death, as this film was apparently viciously hacked to pieces and re-edited without much flair or care. I just assume that the director must be turning in his grave at the lousy sound quality. As far as the story goes, there are many magical moments BUT also quite a few flat moments. Although many consider this a real treasure, I just wasn't impressed by the overall package enough to give it a higher rating.

My less than enthusiastic review is NOT related to any dislike of old films on my part, as I love cinema of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. In addition, I love older French films--especially those of Marcel Pagnol as well as several of Michel Simon's films (he was the star of this movie). So, my less than stellar review isn't due to some bias against the genre.