Lola Montes

How many classics flopped on release? Citizen Kane, It's A Wonderful Life, Vertigo, Raging Bull...the list goes on. What is also true is that great art is usually never appreciated at the time of release. Like New York, New York, The Big Red One or Blade Runner, this, the final film by Ophuls, was chopped against the director's wishes, forced to languish until the Cinémathèque Française's 2008 restoration returned it to its original state. So, how does Ophuls' vision fare today? There are many good things to say about Lola Montes: the performances are excellent; the production and costume design are suitably and substantially opulent; while the film's progressive approach to female emancipation is commendable. What is truly astonishing, however, is the direction of a man truly ahead of his time. The non-linear structure, self-reflexive imagery and narrative devices are ingenious, and the masterful intercutting takes full advantage of both visual and aural possibilities. As the Nouvelle Vague recognised, this is where modern film form began.