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Un chant d’amour (Song of Love), 1954 - Directed by Jean Genet
6/5/25
No spoilers
One of my main goals I seek to achieve with this month-long challenge is to highlight and expose the diversity that queer stories bring, proving that there is no such thing as one queer narrative ; and in turn - no such thing as one type of queer film. This also applies to the medium of film, showing how directors have used different genres, lengths, and cinematic techniques to create their own queer story that resonates with both queer and non-queer audiences alike.Although there is diversity for those who seek it, the mainstream movie industry has often shed light on easier to digest stories and/or sob stories that never humanize the people involved. One population that dominates the queer film index is that of the gay, cisgender, white man. I have no intentions to diminish this population and its stories, as they serve as some of my favorite films I might explore later (Mysterious skins, Buddies, My Own Private Idaho), But the privilege this population holds, has seeped into cinema. The two attractive MLM (man loving man) stories have always been easier to digest for the broader audience, and international market. As I plan to show the diversity of queer stories, themes, and artistry within film, I feel as if these types of MLM films will take a back seat, to other stories I quite frankly find more interesting .
So to kick off this challenge I will be covering a MLM short film, to get it out of the way so I can focus on what I find more interesting. No stone left unturned they say…..
Un chant d’amour.
Written and Directed by Author, Poet, vagabond, and playwright Jean Genet in his only Directing credit.
Loosely based on his own novel Our Lady Of the Flowers, The film gives the audience a glimpse into the relationship of two prisoners, separated by a thick concrete wall, full of longing and isolation, devising unusual ways to communicate and express love to one another.
I have been aware of Genet as an artist for a while now, but it wasn't until early this year I decided to read any of his work. I received Our Lady Of the Flowers from a close friend as a christmas gift and have fond memories of reading it on the train to and fro from new york city in march.
Whilst reading I found myself returning to the idea if the book had the possibility of being adapted into a feature length film. I found it quite unimaginable to capture the essence and/or the spirit of the book in a coherent feature length film. I still believe that attempting a 90+ minute film would be a challenge, and if ever conceived, has a small percentage of being enjoyable and respectful to the original novel.
I was aware that John Water found a lot of inspiration within the novel, and pulled from it whilst working on films such as Mondo Trasho, and Female Trouble, with Actor/Drag artist Divine’s namesake being taken from the character from Genet’s novel, but truly no one has even tried to attempt to capture Genet's experimental narrative structures, the fluid language combining the argot of “lowlifes” and the poetic language of 16th century poets, and the theatrical techniques that makes the book so grand and powerful.
This short film has convinced me that the only person that can tell this story is Genet himself. Although not an adaptation, this short film is the closest thing, featuring a lot of hallmarks and themes of his work. He transfers his fluid and poetic rhythm into the filmmaking, with quick cuts and expressionist framing.
An erotic whirlwind of sight, black and white film captures the intimacy of these prisoners, and Genet packs in a lot of creative ways and ideas of showing expression, such as the prisoners sharing a cigarette by blowing smoke through straw in a small hole in the wall, and them communicating by tossing notes on daisy chain of flowers through the outer windows. During a dream sequence we can see statue-esc nude stills of the two, holding each other in unconventional fashions, something that looks like a cross between Mapplethorpe and Riefenstahl.
The film also highlights the unfortunate life of being gay within the prison system during the time, and creates a holistic view of the time and culture, without seeming exploitative and/or crass. Much like the majority of Genet's work, the film pries the eyes to beauty in a places that there are thought to be none, showing perseverance and poetic nature in places deemed filthy and unredeemable. (without ever crossing into exploitative or unhealthy)
A film that truly celebrates the meditations one practices in times of struggle, holding space and judgement, and saluting those who find love and happiness on their own terms. Despite being exemplary to the extreme side of love, there is a universal and primal sense of desire ; personifying upon the need to experience another person in an astutely timeless fashion. An intense 25 minutes for those who seek it, delightfully beautiful, delightfully sexual, delightfully sincere, and delightfully french.
[ VIEWER WARNING : MALE NUDITY - SEXUAL ASSAULT]