Jean Vigo: L'Atalante

Joie de vivre and «Cherchez la femme!» Jean Vigo's L'Atalante (1934) finds the woman and the joy despite dodgy moments, jealous fits and oddball characters. Newlyweds Juliette and Jean literally embark on an adventure via L'Atalante, the river barge Jean skippers. The accompanying crew consists of Père Jules, a battered and somehwat barmy veteran of the high seas (like Zorba the Greek with a few extra bats in his belfry), Kid (a boy also not playing with a full deck -- akin to Billy in The Last Picture Show), and a slew of Jules' cats. In addition, Jules has in his cabin a storehouse of bizarre artifacts from his patchwork life. 

Vigo's depiction of life on a river barge adeptly captures the mix of adventure, excitement, boredom and claustrophobia that often emerges in a marriage or similar intimate relationship. Boris Kaufman's cinematography will look familiar to anyone who's seen On the Waterfront (1954) or many a black and white French New Wave film.  L'Atlalante is an early gem. As of 2012, the 89 minute Criterion (2011) restored version is the way to go. It's available as part of The Complete Jean Vigo (The Criterion Collection), 2011.  

Today's Rune: Joy.

Siege of Detroit: The Prequel

After having been affirmed by the Congress and signed into law by President James Madison, a formal declaration of war was made by the government of the United States of America against the British Empire on June 18, 1812. Within weeks, William Hull, Michigan Territorial Governor since 1805 and now Brigadier General and Commander of the North-Western Army of the United States, crossed into Canada with a chunk of his gathering forces. After arriving in Sandwich (now Windsor, Ontario), he produced "A PROCLAMATION" addressed to "Inhabitants of Canada!" It states in part:

"The army under my command has invaded your country; the standard of the Union now waves over the territory of Canada. To the peacable unoffending inhabitant, it brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies, not to make them. I come to protect, not injure you."

A little later, Hull's proclamation begins to sound eerily like a Neo-Con's dream about the invasion of Iraq in 2003. ". . . the arrival of an army of friends must be hailed by you with a cordial welcome. You will be emancipated from tyranny and oppression, and restored to the dignified station of freemen."

After the cotton candy comes the menace: "If, contrary to your own interest and the just expectations of my country, you should take a part in the approaching contest, you will be treated and considered as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of war will stalk before you." 

Worse: "If the barbarous and savage policy of Great Britian be pursued, and the savages let loose to murder our citizens and butcher our women and children, THIS WILL BE A WAR OF EXTERMINATION" [Caps in original document]." 

"The first stroke of the tomahawk -- the first attempt with the scalping knife, will be the signal of one indiscriminate scene of desolation. No white man found fighting by the side of an indian will be taken prisoner -- instant death will be his lot. . ."

Then back to cotton candy: "The United States offer you peace, liberty and security. Your choice lies between these and war, slavery and destruction -- Choose then; but choose wisely and may he who knows the justice of our cause, and who holds in his hand the fate of nations, guide you to the result the most compatible with your rights and interests, your peace and happiness . . . Head-quarters, Sandwich, July 12, 1812."

Major General Isaac Brock, Tecumseh and British regulars, First Nation warriors and Canadian militia responded quickly. One combined force captured the Fort of Michillimackinac (Mackinac) on July 17, 1812.  First Nation forces there included Sioux, "Winnebagoes," Tallesawain [Menominee], Chippewas and Ottawas. Next, Tecumseh led raids against US supply lines below Detroit. Hull ordered his army back across the border, concentrating in Fort Detroit. Brock then moved forces into Sandwich, directly across from Detroit. and on August 15, 1812, sent a message to the US commander. This message did three things:

1) It called on Hull to surrender Detroit.
2) It responded to Hull's proclamation by turning the tables.
3) It scared the hell out of Hull, who surrendered the next day with his entire command.

"Sir-- The force at my disposal, authorises me to require of you the immediate surrender of Fort Detroit. It is far from my inclination to join in a war of extermination, but you must be aware, that the numerous body of Indians, who have attached themselves to my troops, will be beyond my control the moment the contest commences. [But if you surrender,] [y]ou will find me disposed to enter into such conditions as will satisfy the most scrupulous sense of honour . . . " [i.e. surrender to me now or my First Nation warriors will kill you all. -- This did the trick].

Note: William Hull's son, Captain Abraham F. Hull of the 13th US Infantry had helped draft the Proclamation to Citizens of Canada while serving as his aide-de-camp. He was killed in action fighting at the Battle of Lundy's Lane in 1814. As noted in the previous post, Brock and Tecumseh were also killed in combat during the war.

Primary documents drawn from Report of the Trial of Brig. General William Hull: Commanding the North-western Army of the United States. By a Court Martial Held at Albany on Monday, 3d January, 1814, and Succeeding Days (New York : Eastburn, Kirk, and Co., 1814).

Today's Rune: Harvest.  

    

The Siege of Detroit

Today is the 200th anniversary of the Siege of Detroit. On this date in 1812, William Hull, "Brigadier General and Commander of the North-Western Army of the United States," surrendered the core of his forces in and around Detroit -- about 2,500 troops (a mix of regulars and militia) -- to Major General Isaac Brock, "commanding his Britannic Majesty's forces" menacing Detroit at the time with about half as many men (a mix of First Nation contingents under Tecumseh, Canadian militia and about 300 British regulars). After his release, Hull was courtmartialed by the US Army, found guilty of cowardice and sentenced to be shot.  However, he lived until 1825. Later in 1812 and 1813 respectively, Brock and Tecumseh (Tekoomsē) were both killed in combat fighting against US forces.  Detroit was abandoned by the British in 1813, leaving its public buildings burned to the ground.  

As of 2012, part of the international Canada-USA border still runs along the Detroit River.

The War of 1812 was a nasty little conflict with big stakes. In the US, Americans like to think of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 -- keeping that city from falling into British hands -- or the National Anthem inspired by the defense of Fort McHenry in Maryland. In Canada, the War of 1812 is remembered more as a brave, victorious defense againt US invasion. First Nations sought to contain US expansion into their lands, more a delaying action than anything else. Two hundred years later, there's a little something for everybody to remember -- or forget.

Today's Rune: Journey. Map image adapted from Benson J. Lossing, "Map of Detroit River and Vicinity," The Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812 (1869). See Archives of Ontaro: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/1812/detroit.aspx

  

Jean Vigo avec Boris Kaufman: À propos de Nice

Set above, in and around Nice, France, Jean Vigo's À propos de Nice [more or less "About Nice"] (1930) lasts only twenty-five minutes, but every scene bursts with exuberance. In such a relatively short time frame, Vigo and cinematographer Boris Kaufman managed to capture a number of things: the contradictions and absurdities of socio-economic classes, the energy and disparities of twentieth century life between world wars, technological changes in process, adjustments in gender presentation, and gaps between rich and poor. Most importantly, it bustles with life! 

  

Less than five years after making À propos de Nice, Vigo was dead from TB. Kaufman continued to work and subsequently shot many very well-known films -- ranging from On the Waterfront (1954) to 12 Angry Men (1957).

Today's Rune: Movement.

Visit Cuba

If every picture tells a story (don't it?) -- what do these want to tell you about Cuba?

Today's Rune: Fertility.  

Po' Boy

How much variety is good for the soul? Some people like to have the same thing over and over. Some people have to limit what kinds of things they eat and drink due to dietary or medical factors.

I like a wide variety of just about anything good, with repeat cycles. Though for any number of reasons vegan would be the wisest type of cuisine to stick to, occasionally I go through a Po' Boy cycle. In this case, oyster loaves -- delicious bits of fried oyster on perfect French bread, with garnish. Sam's Southern Eatery & Seafood in Texarkana serves up quite a tasty version of it.

Texarkana is a border city split down the middle by the Texas-Arkansas line. About 37,000 people live on the Texas side and another 30,000 reside on the Arkansas side.  There are different laws and codes for each so when you drive down State Line Avenue, you'll see radically different signs and prices depending on which way you look. Sam's is at 3302 North State Line Avenue (Arkansas), right across from a potato restaurant (Texas). Its postmodern logo shows a half-man, half-shrimp wearing shades and going through the motions of preparing food -- apparently. This image may or may not hearken back to Charlie the Tuna and the early 1960s -- who knows?  What I do know is this: when passing through Texarkana on an empty stomach, I'm heading to Sam's for a Po' Boy sandwich. 

Anywhere for food or drink that you'd do the moral equivalent of "I'd walk a mile for a Camel?" Or would you "rather fight than switch?"

Today's Rune: Joy.

The Wind Cries Mary

Certain symbols bring comfort and peace. When I see a statue of Mary, I see compassion, an understanding of the weight of the world. The "thin" Buddha icon works this way, also. Both combine compassion with a certain amount of detachment. Warm feelings, yet a certain emotional displacement away from the daily troubles of the world.

A note on the above Mary: it's the Our Lady Of Grace Shrine on an elevated corner by St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Over the years, I've seen some of her fingers broken off and later repaired -- which may be why the hands look so out of scale upon closer observation. The strange atmospheric aura of the Valley of the Vapors causes the surrounding bricks to molt and in places crumble, enhancing the eerie beauty of the place. 

What statues, signs, symbols or places bring you comfort?  Or the reverse? 

Today's Rune: Joy.