Comédie Noire

Black humour
Noun: the juxtaposition of morbid and farcical elements (in writing or drama) to give a disturbing effect.

Delicatessen
Noun: a store selling cold cuts, cheeses, a variety of salads, etc.

Film-makers Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro successfully combined both of those two elements to create the artistic masterpiece, Delicatessen, their first feature film in 1991.

 A saccharine sweet love story, multiple comedic suicide attempts, and most importantly, the practice of cannibalism in a post-apocalyptic society are just among the few sub-plots of this whimsically sinister film.

Jean-Claude Dreyfus (Clapet)

Louison is a former clown who arrives at the delicatessen in response to a job vacancy. The butcher of the delicatessen, Clapet, is also the landlord of the apartment above. Louison would fill in the position of handyman for a few months. Initially, his presence was greeted with indifference by the other tenants, but eventually his kindness wins them over. The most interested was the butcher's timid daughter, Julie. Their story is a beautiful flower blooming among the ashes of a collapsed community. However, Julie knows that in order for Louison to love her, she must let him go.




Jean-Claude Dreyfus's performance as the heartless Clapet was quite impressive. He evoked empathy as a father, who in his own misguided methods tries to protect his daughter's innocence.

Marie-Laure Dognac (Julie) and Dominique Pinon (Louison)

Jeunet and Caro are experienced artistic directors, so it is expected for the film to be a visual feast .Each scene is illuminated with a specific colour scheme. The outdoors are tinted with a hazy feel, emphasising the barren wasteland of a fallen society. Jeunet remarked that the reason he put Marie-Laure Dognac (the actress playing Julie) in green during her date with Louison, was because it contrasted with the orange tones of her apartment. The same technique would be applied in Jeunet's subsequent critical success, Amelie.

The plot could be confusing at times if you're not paying attention, but I don't think that's possible. Even if the cinematography isn't enchanting enough, certain scenes will definitely do the job.