Marguerite Duras was no stranger to tragedy and complexity. Born in Saigon (April 4, 1914) as Marguerite Donnadieu just before the onset of the First World War, she lost both parents at a young age and subsequently became a writer; she changed her name to Duras while living in Nazi-dominated France during the Second World War. Her writing changed from a formulaic traditional style to more probing and deeper approaches, using flashback and memory sequences. Given that today is Hiroshima remembrance day, it's worth mentioning her screenwriting role in the 1959 black and white film, Hiroshima Mon Amour, directed by Alain Resnais.
Hiroshima Mon Amour [aka Hiroshima, mon amour] has a haunting tone and look, and tells the complicated stories of two people (played well by Emmanuelle Riva and Eiji Okada) who fall in love in Hiroshima after the Atomic attack; both have survived the atrocities of war, and much is revealed about their pasts and the universally sorrowful human plight.
Marguerite Duras wrote 34 books (mostly novels), directed or co-directed some fifteen independent films, and died on March 3, 1996.
Today's Rune: Journey.
Au revoir. . . . .
3 comments:
One of the great ones.
Erik-Only you could remind me of Hiroshima Day!
I know her name but have never read her. another sad lack on my part.
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