MovieChat Forums > Monsieur Hire Discussion > Visual pun

Visual pun

posted 17 years ago by greenighs
2 replies | jump to latest

Immediately after the detective asks M. Hire, "When was the last time you came inside a woman?" the film cuts to a view of bird feed falling onto Hire's feet as he sits on a park bench feeding the pigeons. Spilling his seed, yes?

This pigeon scene ties into the story he tells Alice about the bird lady: is he feeding the pigeons or poisoning them? Life or death? Just like the fate of the poor little mice, a question hanging in the air.

I saw this in the theatre when it was first released in the U.S., then again on DVD this weekend. Seamless and thought-provoking.

[–] HenryLimpet 15 years ago

There's a funny story about Dorothy Parker, which I hope is true, that she named her parakeet Onan because he cast his seed upon the ground.

[–] TheManInOil 13 years ago

I think a better visual metaphor in the film is where Emile literally climbs over Alice to escape. He trods upon her, using and discarding her.

"I'll book you. I'll book you on something. I'll find something in the book to book you on."