CURZON90: L'Atalante

A timeless masterpiece of love and yearning, L’Atalante was the only full-length film made by Jean Vigo before his tragic early death. Yet is considered to be one of cinema's very greatest works.

Dita Parlo stars as a young bride who begins married life aboard her husband’s barge on the Seine. But within the boat’s cramped confines, shared with a small crew (including the eccentric Père Jules, memorably played by Michel Simon) and an abundance of cats, the relationship begins to founder.

Vigo imbues this simple tale, beautifully shot by Boris Kaufman, with social realism, lyrical romance and sensual eroticism to create a unique and enduring classic.

Owing to his premature death at 29, Jean Vigo was only able to make one feature film, the delightful, poetic L’Atalante, during his lifetime.

The 1934 movie, which shares a birthday with Curzon, was rereleased in cinemas in 1990 by Artificial Eye, and as a box set in 2000s.