Outline
Cosmos “In the Various Restaurants”
The spaces of flows in these two texts: Café, diner, TV station, taxi, hotel, restaurant, streets.
They don’t have stable identity or distinct histories; they are spaces for chance and/or brief encounters.
People in the Spaces of Flows
Cosmos: Background
Predecessor: Montreal vu par – made in the 80’s, by the six film “auteurs.” (Four Quebecois and 2 English—Rozema and Egoyan)
Cosmos – the six directors first films, not dealing with the typical themes of Quebecois films (such as father-son relationship; sense of guilt; loss of identity; sense of community, etc.)
Taxi Drivers at Montreal -- mostly immigrants
(e.g. from “The City Cab”) Q’s language policy
[Cosmos (1997)] INTRODUCTION
SIX EPISODES
THEMES:
THE LINKING PERSON--- COSMOS
Between two genders, two friends
Chance Encounter among 3 generations THE CITY & ITS
LURKING DANGERS TECHONOLOGY vs.
Agriculture or the past
INTRODUCTION OF THE SIX EPISODES Why is the movie “black and white?”
A. BOOSTYannie, Jeol
THE TECHNETIUM Morille, Tekno
JULES AND FANNYFanny, a lawyer, her ex-boyfriend (Jules/Julien)
L’ INDIVIDULThe killer
AURORE AND CREPUSCULEDawn, Dusk
COSMOS AND AGRICULTURECosmos, Janvier
BOOSTYannie, Joel
THEME (1): “Jules and Fanny”:Between two genders -- Sex and Work Ethics
How do the ex-lovers deal with the issue of enlarged breasts? Is the issue of work ethics involved? (clips 14, 15, 16, 17)
Jules
-- Worried about the death of the matter
-- Mixes pleasure with work; wants to have sex with F
Fanny
-- “new body,” present partner = future ex-lover
-- stripping is what matters
-- Does she compromise her ethics?—almost.
-- Seductive
THEME (1): “Jules and Fanny”:Between two genders -- Sex and Work Ethics
How are the two scenes in contrast with each other?
THEME (1): “Boost – Yanni and Joel” Between two friends—Friendship and Uncertainties in Life
Comic view at the terrifying situation: What’s funny? What’s sad? Funny – the car, their way of
entertaining themselves, (9, 18)
Sad – “homosexuals are a protected race.” afraid of being HIV positive, the car dead again
THEME (2): Chance Encounters – Differences among the 3 ENERATIONS
How are the younger generation presented in this film? (e.g. “Technitium” “Dawn and Dusk” “Cosmos and Agriculture”)
THEME (2): Chance Encounters – Differences among the 3 ENERATIONS
How are the younger generation presented in this film? (e.g. “Technitium” “Dawn and Dusk” “Cosmos and Agriculture”)
Web TV station (also hair salon)at “Technitium,” robbers at “Cosmos and Agriculture” -- Superficial and playful superficial:
Emphasis on appearance (hair) Care about instant fame (e.g. Cyberdog)
rapid pace, uncertain about relationship and the future
Yanni and Joel two-minute interview (Maurille Maurice)
THEME (2): Chance Encounters – Differences among the 3 ENERATIONS
“Technitium” – Morille and the past ignored
War, hostage, fear, Tension about work
and self-presentation
THEME (2): Chance Encounters – Differences among the 3 ENERATIONS
“Dawn and Dusk” (clips 19, 20)
Dawn vs. Dusk: their differences?
Possible Dangers? Romanticize the old
man
THEME (2): RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 3 GENERATIONS
Youth Yanni & Joel, Dawn & her
boyfriend Web station
• 30’s - 40’s
• Fanny & Jules
• Morille
• Serial killer
50’s – 60’s
•Dusk
Minorities:
Javier Cosmos
THEME (3): THE CITY & its LURKING DANGERS
Characteristics of Montreal presented Fluidity--- urban setting: hotel, subway, apartment
building for rent, roads, suburban wilderness, chance encounters the youngsters’ Aimlessness and nostalgia Fast-Pace & Rootlessness – no one is shown at home.
Lurking Dangers Vulnerable groups (women
& children) (“Individul”) Sense of suspense and fear in the subway, bathroom,
department store, and apartment. Danger not understandable e.g. gaps in the film;
clips 6, 7
THEME (3): TECHONOLOGY vs. agriculture
Are all the city’s problems caused, as Javier puts it, by 1. Seasons, 2. “Agriculture”?
The role of machines and technologies in this film Cars and subway Breast enlargement Video and internet in “Technitium” Instant
transmission of messages by the web station, empty of content
THE LINKING PERSON--- COSMOS
Two other links: Dawn as a coffee shop waitress (tries to stop Morille from drinking too much), Antoine as a hotel waiter (sees the conflict in Jules between his intellect and his “material aspirations”)
IMPORTANCE OF COSMOS & HIS ROLE ASSOCIATION with all the other characters (clips 1, 4,
7, 11, 21) HIS PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE (23) –connect the positive
with the positive, negative with the negative. The final episode – what do you think about his
response? (24, 25)
“In the Various Restaurants”
Starting questions: How do we characterize Nicola, the narrator and
their relationship? (What does it mean to be “friends, but never close”? 153)
How are the other artists presented? Why are the restaurants important to the
narrator? Does the fact that the author, Daniel Jones, later
commit suicide influence your reading of the novel?
Nicola and the narrator, 1983 –1992 “Not a Love Story”?
The narrator needs some clarification 145 Similarities: wary of burden or long-term
commitment Aspiring writers switching from poetry to narratives. Nicola on her marriage (151) The Narrator: does not know what he wants; “The
thought of close friends frightens me.” (152) Can understand each other. Do not speak when meeting on the street, no
kiss or touch when leaving each other, no photos, no talk on the phone, etc.
The narrator
The narrator: about to publish in 1983 (age 24 N age 17),
Unstable life; Alcoholic, suicidal; (144) keep careful records of the past, repeated actions
(“always” 143) Self-obsessed, but also self-critical of his attraction
to Nicola.146 Married in 1985. Feels distant from her at the moment of her
confession (149); turns to look at his own wound. Does not know what he wants 151
Nicola: a self-protective artist
her voice 141; frightened by him when meeting first; can
form a relationship with him only thru’ writing. 145
Pre-occupied by her novel writing; afraid of his depression;
Infatuated by a man (a Divinity student), or with the idea of writing poems to him; 147
Her story of nervous breakdown; 147-48
The narrator’s view of Toronto
The two meet: “Always for lunch, in various restaurants.”
Only knows restaurants; 152 There are so many things to talk about, . . .
153
Life and Art
The narrator’s wanting to write a story about Nicola. 150.
Collection of short stories by Daniel Jones: Obsessions: A Novel in Parts.
People in the Spaces of Flows
愛情萬歲﹑城市飛行 Drifting and toiling at work, desiring, supporting each other when they can;
愛情來了 ﹑ Showing support despite the lack of proper channels
Cosmos – brief reunion; brief outing before a life-and-death moment; chance encounters romance or accidents;
“In the Various Restaurants” – with their own problems, meeting and parting, understanding without committing themselves.