Scarlet (2023) | Dir Pietro Marcello
Juliette Jouan, As Seen In SCARLET, Directed By Pietro Marcello. Courtesy of Kino Lorber.
Written By Belle McIntyre
Photo Edited By Tram Huynh
Loosely based on Scarlet Sails, a novel by Soviet author Alexander Grin, this enchantingly beautiful quasi-fairy tale from the director of Martin Eden is a departure in some ways but has some of the hallmarks of that breakout film, such as 16mm film and effective use of archival material. The story takes place in the rural Normandy countryside just after WWI with Raphaël (Raphaël Thiéry) a bulky limping man trudging alone returning to his village. When he arrives he discovers that his wife has died mysteriously leaving an infant daughter, who has been cared for by a kindly neighbor Adeline (Noémie Lvovsky). Raphaël, a man of very few words, overcomes his grief by pouring his love on baby Juliette (played by three different actresses until the grown-up version, Juliette Jouan)..
Juliette Jouan and Louis Garrel, As Seen In SCARLET, Directed by Pietro Marcello. Courtesy of Kino Lorber.
Adeline gives them a place to live and remains in close proximity helping to raise Juliette. These are poor, fairly uneducated peasants who have strange ways and hold onto secrets, suspicions, and superstitions. As Juliette grows up into a bright, curious child who loves to sing, which she does constantly. The villagers find her strange and her father, who has been treated badly by them reacts angrily, which causes them to become outcasts. Raphaël works to support them as a carpenter. He is a skilled artisan who makes delicate toys and objects to sell in the market. He also plays the accordion and when Juliette shows an aptitude for the piano he encourages and enables her. When she is offered a chance to go to a school in town which would surely improve her future she declines, not wishing to leave her father alone. Their bond is total and fierce.
Juliette Jouan, As Seen In SCARLET, Directed By Pietro Marcello. Courtesy of Kino Lorber.
Noémie Lvovsky and Juliette Jouan, As Seen In SCARLET, Directed By Pietro Marcello. Courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The local witch (Yolande Moreau) speaks to Juliette and advises her to look for scarlet sails as they will take her away to a place where dreams come true. Juliette becomes a beautiful dreamy loner singing in the woods and swimming in ponds, playing the piano which Raphaël has restored for her, and writing music to her favorite poems. And then a small bi-plane crashes down in the field next to her favorite woods. The pilot Jean (Louis Garrel), a handsome rakish fellow catches a glimpse of Juliette sleeping under a tree and is instantly smitten. It is one of many sublime images. She is instantly curious and throws caution to the wind, meeting him secretly in the woods. Jean flies off after a row.
Raphaël Thiéry and Sienna Gillibert, as seen in SCARLET, directed by Pietro Marcello. Courtesy of Kino Lorber.
Things get messy and ugly when some of the village boys show unwanted attention to Juliette, who rebuffs them. Then her father dies and she sees the red sails. I will say no more, but it is a fairy tale. The cinematography is truly ravishing with a painterly light which illuminates the closely observed details of Raphaël’s heavy brow above striking blue eyes and thick calloused hands with a Rembrandt-ish feel. There are frequent shots that are so artfully and stunningly composed that they read like paintings. Then there are the delightful Jacques Demy interludes of Juliette singing and occasionally dancing. There is much to love about this film.
