The Virgin’s Bed
Philippe Garrel once said in an interview that "cinema is the Lumière brothers plusFreud." The Virgin's Bed certainly attests to the truth of this maxim. Made with the participation of the Zanzibar collective, this minimalistic film, nearly devoid of music, is a bold combination of biblical themes and the psychoanalytical theory of the Oedipus complex. Garrel's story is also a variation on the holy family, which, in this on-screen world, is made up of Jesus, Mary, and Mary Magdalene. The last two roles are played by the same person, the model Zouzou, who was soon to become famous because of her starring role in Eric Rohmer's Love in the Afternoon. The Virgin's Bed creates a vision of Christ-popular with hippy youth-as a left-wing rebel. The sense of alienation and bitterness that characterize the protagonist allow us to perceive in him a spiritual kinship with the veterans of May 1968.
Philippe Garrel
Born in 1948, Philippe Garrel is the son of the well-known actor Maurice Garrel and one of the most important continuators of the French New Wave. He was only 16 when he made his debut film, Les enfants désaccordés (Children Out of Tune). His films combine lyrical self-portraits, cinematic tributes to his favorite filmmakers, and critical social commentary. His first big success was The Secret Son, for which he won a Jean Vigo Award in 1979. Garrel’s most important films include Liberty at Night, Wild Innocence, and Regular Lovers, which concerns the events of May 1968.
Selected filmography
1979 Sekretne dziecko / L’enfant secret / The Secret Child
1991 Nie słyszę już gitary / J'entends plus la guitare / I Don't Hear the Guitar Anymore
1984 Liberté, la nuit / Liberty at Night
1999 Powiew nocy / Le vent de la nuit / Night Wind
2005 Zwyczajni kochankowie / Les amants réguliers / Regular Lovers