The woman figure is central to Max Ophuls’ oeuvre. His female protagonists, for the majority of their screen time, often find themselves in pain, because of, well, society, be it financial shortage or unattainable love. As a result, besides the famous use of the long take which elevates characters into another realm of time and space, Ophuls’ films also have a masochistic aesthetic as the camera swirls around the cluttered mise-en-scene filled with layers of veils and curtains, always teasing, always leaving the audience wanting for more. This gallery of images from Ophuls’ works offers a glimpse into the obscure objects of desire in his cinematic world.
5 years ago
