L'Atalante, or the Virtues of Messiness

A restoration of L'Atalante (Jean Vigo, 1934) caused Terrence Rafferty to declare that 'the best thing about this new version is that, for all the restorer's diligence, the film is still messy, imperfect, defiantly incomplete'. This paper will consider on what basis messiness and imperfection might be celebrated.<br/><br/>Marina Warner (2015) demurs from Rafferty's assessment, stating that she 'read[s] Vigo's imprint more definitely on the material', noting stylistic energy' resulting from aesthetic innovation, and praising its 'fluidity' and 'grace'. Yet even the film's most devoted champion, François Truffaut, acknowledged that L'Atalante contains lapses in continuity, sporadic clumsiness in shot sequencing, and a slapdash approach to story. He regards such flaws as redeemed by an array of 'wonderful details... [which] save it, and the film gets back on track'.<br/><br/>Monroe Beardsley (1962) cites Paul Ziff approvingly: ' Some good paintings are somewhat disorganized; they are good in spite of the fact that they are somewhat disorganized. But no painting is good because it is disorganized...' (486) Beardsley uses this to assert 'disorganization' as a primary (negative) critical criterion.<br/><br/>Yet this is clearly at odds with Rafferty's invitation to celebrate the film for its messiness. How might we consider messiness in aesthetic appreciation? If we follow Noël Carroll's (2008) conflation of achievement and value, we might be tempted to assert intentionality (i.e. the film is deliberately messy). If we follow Beardsley, we rely on an accountancy model where merits and demerits are tallied and weighed. Is there a third option?<br/><br/><br/>Texts cited:<br/><br/>Beardsley M., 1962. 'On the Generality of Critical Reasons', The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 59, No. 18. 477-486 <br/>Carroll, N., 2008. On Criticism. London: Routledge.<br/>Rafferty, T., 1990. 'L'Atalante: A Slow Boat Bound for Lasting Fame', New Yorker, 11th May.<br/>Truffaut, F. 1968 'Postface à L'Atalante' (interview with Éric Rohmer).<br/>Warner, M., 2015 (2nd ed.). L'Atalante. London: Palgrave/BFI.