3 Musical narration in the films of Luc Besson
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Gérard Dastugue
Abstract
This chapter explores the use of musical material in Luc Besson's films and its impact on the viewer. It focuses on Besson the director rather than the producer, considering the eight films from Le Dernier combat to Jeanne d'Arc which feature an original score by Eric Serra. Before moving on to an extended discussion of the scoring of Leon, the chapter briefly explores what we could call Besson's 'musical continuum', as part of the way in which music in his films is there to be heard. It considers individual sequences to pinpoint the features of the Besson-Serra musical system: the music is multivalent and frequently is as determining as the image. The chapter shows how the various types of musical narration in the films of Besson from the point of view of the non-specialist audience.
Abstract
This chapter explores the use of musical material in Luc Besson's films and its impact on the viewer. It focuses on Besson the director rather than the producer, considering the eight films from Le Dernier combat to Jeanne d'Arc which feature an original score by Eric Serra. Before moving on to an extended discussion of the scoring of Leon, the chapter briefly explores what we could call Besson's 'musical continuum', as part of the way in which music in his films is there to be heard. It considers individual sequences to pinpoint the features of the Besson-Serra musical system: the music is multivalent and frequently is as determining as the image. The chapter shows how the various types of musical narration in the films of Besson from the point of view of the non-specialist audience.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- List of contributors viii
- Preface x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Three French neo-baroque directors 11
- 2 Du côté d’Europa, via Asia 23
- 3 Musical narration in the films of Luc Besson 43
- 4 Hearing Besson 57
- 5 Of suits and men in the films of Luc Besson 75
- 6 From rags to riches 91
- 7 The sinking of the self 109
- 8 Imprisoned freedoms 121
- 9 Nikita 135
- 10 Léon and the cloacal labyrinth 147
- 11 Jeanne d’Arc 161
- 12 An unpublished interview with Luc Besson 175
- Filmography 179
- Select bibliography 189
- Index of proper names and film titles 193
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- List of contributors viii
- Preface x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Three French neo-baroque directors 11
- 2 Du côté d’Europa, via Asia 23
- 3 Musical narration in the films of Luc Besson 43
- 4 Hearing Besson 57
- 5 Of suits and men in the films of Luc Besson 75
- 6 From rags to riches 91
- 7 The sinking of the self 109
- 8 Imprisoned freedoms 121
- 9 Nikita 135
- 10 Léon and the cloacal labyrinth 147
- 11 Jeanne d’Arc 161
- 12 An unpublished interview with Luc Besson 175
- Filmography 179
- Select bibliography 189
- Index of proper names and film titles 193
