Abstract
Historical and political films offer a unique perspective on
the relationship between distance and proximity: based in
chronological fact and accuracy, they bring that which is remote,
past, or out-of-date back into the here-and-now of the present
day. The films of Jorge Semprun are exemplary politico-historical
films, reanimating rebellion, conflict and ideological differences
from a broad European and 20th century perspective. While the
visual reanimation of the past may appear to bring the events
into the immediacy of the present, the viewing experience
itself, complete with contemporary misunderstandings and
misconceptions, only underlines the remoteness of the event. This
paper explores how this juxtaposition of distance and proximity
in politico-historical film reflects the position of Europe and of
Semprun; symptomatic of the traumatic irresolution of history
and memory. Ultimately, Semprun’s films only show something
which is there without ever really being there: haunted by spectres
of proximity, ghosted by the illusion of distance.
To read or download this article, please follow this link: http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1469466/
DOI: 10.14324/111.2057-2212.025
Keywords
Hispanic Studies, French Studies, Semprun, Resnais, Communism, Film
How to Cite
Tynan, A., (2015) “The Illusion of Distance and the Spectre of Proximity in the Films of Jorge Semprun”, Tropos 2(1).
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