MovieChat Forums > Jules et Jim (1962) Discussion > Holocaust Imagery? (spoiler)

Holocaust Imagery? (spoiler)

posted 16 years ago by Kitnerboy_Redoubt
6 replies | jump to latest

At the end when Jim and Catherine are cremated, did anyone else pick up on the Holocaust imagery?

[–] aliza_tvito 16 years ago

Yes, undoubtely the ending does contain some sinister hint about WW2 approaching. As well the closing sequence: Jules going slowly through the cemetery - all alone. Now the tragedy that is greatest of all knocks the door. Beautiful cinema.

[–] kriege10 16 years ago

Jules is Jewish--it is mentioned in the novel--so there is the possibility that he would die during the holocaust, which Franz Hessel, whom the character was based on, actually did.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cowgoesmoo 15 years ago

Yes. I was still thinking about the book burning scenes that had played a few minutes earlier. When a hand reached into the oven and pulled out bones and bone fragments, my immediate reaction was that Truffault had somehow jumped forward in time to WWII. After a couple seconds I realized that wasn't the case.

[–] machaltcrz 15 years ago

I think this oven/bone shard and ash imagery was a direct reference to the Holocaust. It is a superb book-end to the film imho. Jules, identified in the film as Austrian may well have been Jewish. To me it's not clear in the film, (there is anecdotal reference on this forum that his real-life character was Jewish).

In terms of the interplay of character and personality dynamics amongs the three protagonists with Catherine portraying the 20th Century "new woman" and Jim playing a kind of counterpart, it is Jules' character who is stoicly left behind to stoutly carry on in the aftermath of Catherine's murder/suicide.

Catherine's character may also be viewed as a portent of the collaborationist femme of the years of occupation. She could be right out of Nemirovsky...

machaltcrz

[–] aliza_tvito 15 years ago

///Catherine's character may also be viewed as a portent of the collaborationist femme of the years of occupation.///

It's quite possible by my opinion, but I'm curious about how would you base this statement.

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