Explorations of Human Nature in Raging Bull
I found the interview to be really interesting to read in relation to this film because of Scorcese's discussion of place and how that compares to universal human experience. Although his films succinctly portray specific periods or places, they still explore themes that almost every viewer can relate to.
Scorcese believes through his films "we can be true to human nature" through the specific places he knows, which remain the core of stories like Raging Bull, even though it is an adaptation of someone else's story. It's clear that this narrative has been molded to fit the ethos of New Hollywood, since the character of Jake LaMotta is clearly embodied by DeNiro and that representation of masculinity.
There are a few things that make this masculinity distinctly "new" to me, particularly its portrayal of religion, sexuality, and violence. Religion is very present in this film, and the traditional Catholic masculinity is subverted by using religious images in scenes of sex and violence. The angels observe the fight between brothers and there are crosses everywhere in the room where Jake and his 15 year old wife first have sex. Everything seems to predict LaMotta's fall from grace.
The sex in this movie also was kind of just weird. It seemed to suggest that sex, like violence, is something to be carefully controlled. This film does a great job at creating tension in its fight scenes but the scene where LaMotta gets out of bed to pour ice down his underwear was equally as tense to me because it had the same undercurrent of violence. Scorcese captures characters losing control again after LaMotta loses the match and sobs into someone else's arms. I felt sympathetic towards the character in this moment, largely because of the emotional contrast between him and his brother. I haven't seen many films that have explored a complicated relationship between brothers, and this story expands beyond the "I slept with your wife" plot. Sibling relationships are very core to the ideas of human nature that Scorcese is interested in, no doubt.
I think combining the thematic and structural elements with what this film does aesthetically with a lot of its framing and sound makes is more enjoyable. In the interview, Scorcese talks about his techniques sculpting a shot, and how he creates distance through exclusion. His idea of "carving space" for the visual elements and sound provided a new lens to view the film. I noticed a lot more of the delicate positioning of characters and music, which enhanced even specific moments of dialogue.
I hope everyone is having a restful week!
Your connection of violence to sex was really interesting. It identified for me that even during something that intimate LaMotta is close to violence.
ReplyDeleteI really like your point about the brother story. I think it was very interesting how from the very beginning it becomes such a pivotal part of the story, and even when Joe's character is mad at DeNiro, he still watches his fight, almost as if that brotherly bond is there, as if Joe understands LaMotta and why he did what he did
ReplyDeleteI think that it's really interesting to think of this film in relationship to the Christian ideology of a fall from grace that is predicted from the start of the film. I think that that is a really interesting take on the film. I also think that this ties into the theme of losing control really well since sinning is often configured as a loss of control against more primal urges. I think it is equally interesting to think of this film in that light as it is to think of it in relationship to failed or toxic masculinity as most people in class seemed to want to do.
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