BLOOD OF A POET (1930)
Article #334 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing date: 2-12-2002
Posting date: 6-29-2002

Plot? Well, it all happens during the length of time it takes a chimney to fall (I didn’t figure this out from watching the movie; I just read it somewhere).

If you’ve seen other movies by Cocteau, you’ll recognize his style; it’s certainly quite individual. This is a very personal movie, which is one way to say that he understands it more than I do. The fact that my copy is not subtitled may have something to do with it, but I doubt it; this bizarre assortment of strange images and events is surreal and dreamlike, and probably isn’t intended to make any sense in the way we’re used to defining it. It works, nonetheless, because the imagery is so powerful and strong, and it’s certainly one I plan to see again.