MovieChat Forums > Shopgirl (2005) Discussion > The Bar at the Folies-Bergere

The Bar at the Folies-Bergere

posted 17 years ago by norweejun
3 replies | jump to latest

There must be a connection between Claire as the bored shopgirl consigned to merely observe the wealthy crowds move by (a group she is surely not part), and the bored marchant in the painting by Manet. The woman in the left side of the painting is wearing gloves in an evocative fashion as a "member" of the crowd.. a part of the crowd without the capacity to feel or touch. I believe this allusion is powerful and real..... Yet a notehr question I would ask the man if I had the chance.

[–] otter 17 years ago

Yeah, I see the resemblance between Claire's characteristic pose behind the counter, and that painting. It's entirely possible that the director or cinematographer was thinking of it when they designed the Saks scenes.

Still, I don't think the parallels can be stretched too far. The girl in the painting had to have known that there wasn't a hope in hell that she could legitimately become one of the monied crowd, which IMHO accounts for the faint sadness on her face. Claire, on the other hand, is ever more hopeful as the story progresses and her wardrobe improves, because she lives in a world where shopgirls can and do become Beverly Hills wives.

[–] bestdayever 15 years ago

I think the connection between the Manet painting and Clare is moreso about longing for love, not longing for money or to become a "Beverly Hills wife."

Clare's character was creative, sensitive, artistic, and thoughtful. All those times she slumped across her glove counter we see her staring wistfully at couples that walk by (there's an elderly couple holding hands and a young "hollywood" couple). To me, this clearly implies Clare wants to find love, not wealth.

Anyway, I love the OP's idea of the connection to the painting, aesthetically. I love that painting and I never realized how similar it is to Clare's signature pose at the counter. Nice :)

[–] fearforthefuture 12 years ago

Ooh, nice one Norweejun! You are so right!

With that in mind, I wish the gloves had been yellow. (Also, I found the "Oh, the safe choice" comment about the grey gloves a bit odd - surely black would be the "safe" option?)