Soupçon, In Memoriam, V.v

                             Soupçon III                                                        In Memoriam Series                                                           V.v

The last point that I would like to make in our discussion of this film, considered  "culturally, historically, aesthetically significant" so much so that it is one of the twenty-five best films of the twentieth century according to the Library of Congress, is that it is a 'silent film.' 

Actually, 'talkies', that is, films with dpoken dialogues, had already begun, since 1927 to be precise. Yet Chaplin chooses the silent mode. Undoubtedly, there are subtitles to scenes, explaining their content and relevance.

Yes, Ellen's song is 'vocal', too, though it basically is more mere empty gibberish.  In other words, the film belongs to the silent era/genre. Why so?

In my opinion, Chaplin wants to convey how the machineries of modern times render the downtrodden still more down, and out. That is his stringent comment on capitalism that reduce the poor poorer still. 

Hence the scene when the Tramp forgets the the lyrics of the song, given the loss of cufflinks which were to cover the hidden words so that his n her job at the café would continue. and somehow saves the situation by impromptu singer-ly activities in the comic mode. 

Well, this was the way on stage was born the great genius Charlie Chaplin, then an  eight year old. Performing at the Aldershot Canteen in England, his mother, Hannah, lost her voice entirely in front of a tough, noisy audience of soldiers. 

Pulled from the wings, the young Charlie was led onto the center stage by the stage manager. He sang the popular tune "Jack Jones," collected in a funny caper the tossed coins while drawing laughter, and mimicked his mother's hoarseness to a delighted crowd. 

Chaplin, in brief, understood very well the pangs poor face, but lack the voice to make them known to the world. Hence this masterpiece, critiqueing the materialistic machines released relentlessly by capitalism, continues to be a silent movie even in the 'talkies' era. 

Pratima Agnihotri 

Soupçon, In Memoriam, V. Iv

                             Soupçon III                                                        In Memoriam Series                                                           V.iv

In my opinion, truly noteworthy are the unmistakable literary echoes in "Modern Times". Let us look at the allusion in the scene when Ellen steals bread. She is an orphaned street urchin running after stealing bread, with police in hot pursuit. The Tramp, however, takes the blame on him.

The allusion to the beginning of Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" is unmistakable. The Tramp thus is an example of the solidarity that the rejects of the society often share, though they may not be as humane as the priest in Hugo's novel. 

Chaplin is, after all, interested in creating a comic effect. Any sentimentality is hence out. It is hence shown that this noble plan is so as to return to the jail which in itself is ironic. The alibi that apparently saves him, too, is a comment on the empty conscience, attempted when conveniently nothing is at stake.

Yet another major allusion in the Hut Sequence as well as in the final walk in to sunset is  to Voltaire's world weary "il faut cultiver notre jardin." Such a sensitive alternative with its "back to nature" message continues to make this film relevant today, given the climate crisis.

Pratima Agnihotri

Soupçon, In Memoriam Series, V. Iii

                            Soupçon III                                                        In Memoriam Series                                                           V.iii   

It can be argued that "Modern Times" is interesting because of its depiction of womanhood. In most of his films, Chaplin treats women in a rather gallant fashion, that is to say, in the typical traditional way as good, mild, sweet, kind.

Ellen in this film is quite a cookie. When the tramp first comes across her after the wreckage of his shipbroker job, she is an orphaned street urchin. She, is, moreover labelled as a thief. The Tramp saves her by declaring himself a thief, albeit in his determined effort to return to the jail.

Next when we meet her after his release from the jail, she is a café dancer. In other words, some riffraff, she is no genteel, or gentle, lady. Yet her resourcefulness, though minor and rather petty, finally sees them on the way to some space far away from all the city shenanigans to the repetitive rhythm of machines! 

Charlie Chaplin, in brief, is showing us that it is the common man, and woman, whom the machine-obsessed modern times vanquish. A comment worth our serious note-n-notice in the AI era of today!

Pratima Agnihotri

Ahilyabai: An exemplary lady

 Which is the c-word that controls every discussion and each debate in India? Mind you, it is not only the free-for-all field of politics that it dominates. In fact, it controls poetics even more! If the dying-in-the-AI-era Humanities Studies suddenly seek the survival mode, rest assured, it is due to the c-word. 

This c-word haunts humans in a fashion more tenacious than Hamlet's ghost! 'Re-arrange', it insists constantly, forgetting in the heat, sound n fury that the "varna" system was coerced in to "jati" due to the colonisers' tricks! 

Come to think of it, if a person does solid good work, hardly is her/his caste quoted. Want some proof? Look at Ahilyabai Holkar, for instance. Recently was celebrated her death anniversary. 

She is a mighty example of how a good ruler, be it as the queen or the regent, can be an efficient administrator. Her womanhood never stood in the way! She revived the Hindu sensibility, too. Be it ghat's, math's, temples, she (re-)built countless. 

What I admire her for is the fact that in those days, she cared for girls' education. Why, she even catered to the self-respect of the common (wo)man by initiating the handloom industry, which continues to flourish even today! 

Nobody, the rabid ideologues excluded, ever remembers her as a Dhangar product! Her father was the 'patil', the chieftain, of that area. Honestly, she was one of my 'heroines' during the childhood days, and our parents encouraged us to think of all human(e)ly. In brief, cast your net(work) thus  that no worries regarding to caste or not to caste which  is never the  real question! 'Class' is, but more about it some other time!

Pratima@ Her birth anniversary falls on May 31, which is my brother's birthday, too. A day conserved for the conscientious, I suppose! 

Quote of the day:                                                          "Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one."  Agreed, Marcus Aurelius! 

Word of the day: conscientious                                  A conscientious person is highly considerate, and always acts correctly and well for the good of the most.