Breathless and Bonnie and Clyde as Variations of the Outlaw Couple on the Run Story - Essay Example

Breathless and Bonnie and Clyde as Variations of the Outlaw Couple on the Run Story Introduction Outlaw Couple on the run movies have been quite popular after the sensational movie Bonnie and Clyde directed by Arthur Penn. It was this movie that inspired many others of the same kind. This movie is classified as the sub-genre of crime movies. While keeping in view the nature of crime and road movies, the directors introduced variations to the genre to introduce another sub-genre and that was of Outlaw couple on the run. Even within the sub-genre of Outlaw couple, directors introduce their own variation by developing the plot, the characters and the cinematography in their own way. Thus, films of the same genre were perceived differently by the viewers. One example of this the way viewers perceive Bonnie and Clyde and Breathless in two different contexts given the tone developed by the movie. While the director, Arthur Penn infused both tragedy and comedy in the movie, Bonnie and Clyde, Breathless’s director, Jean-Luc Godard explored only the element of tragedy in this movie. In this paper, we attempt to compare both the movies in the way they were different presented by the viewers while belonging to the same sub-genre. Outlaw Couple on the Run Story The Outlaw Couple on the Run is a sub-genre often associated with crime movies. This sub-genre became popular in the 1990s with movies such as Bonnie and Clyde. Even though this genre existed earlier with movies such as They Live by the Night and Gun Crazy but the name was coined after Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde. A movie is classified in the sub-genre of outlaw couple on the run when it has three elements namely, outlaws, couple and being on the road (Cook, 122). The couples within the outlaw movies break social order and construct their own order. Though, they are not sincere towards their government or towards another entity, they have a sense of belonging and responsibility towards their partners. Thus, the couples in such movies do not fit in dictates of the society and for this reason; they are shunned by the society. However, since they are the protagonist of the movie, the viewers accept them with their faults and are even willing to support them despite the crimes they have committed. One element that makes such movies so popular is the majestic landscape presented in the movie. As the couples take to the road, they explore the different parts of the country and this increases the appeal of the movies for the audience. The plot of the outlaw couple on the run has the aim of breaking the couple apart. Even though the couple on the run has strong emotional attachment in the beginning, this attachment is attacked by the story. In some movies, the couple is separately in the end of the movie due to tragic circumstances; while in a few the couple come out together despite the circumstances. Bonnie and Clyde as Out-law couple Bonnie and Clyde have been one of the most successful outlaw couple on the run. This was this movie by Arthur Penn that set the example for other movies of the same genre. Set in the Depression era, this movie allowed the protagonists to become a model figure for the public by stealing from the rich. People in the depression era were happy to see a couple living a frivolous time in such a period. It provided them with optimism for the future. In this movie, Arthur Penn introduced a different perspective of crime movies. This he did by introducing a comic and romantic version of an outlaw couple on the run movie. Violent scenes in the movie are portrayed in a comic style, thus bringing forth a new cinematic style that later inspired other action and violent movies. As Arthur Penn introduced comedy in violent scene, he also had the power to revert the comedy back into aggression and violence. Thus, the tones within the movie changed rapidly from violence to comedy and again to violence with hot romantic scenes infused in between. Another common feature of outlaw couples that we also see in Bonnie and Clyde is the breaking of the stereotypical roles of the gender. This can be seen in the case of Bonnie who at times takes up a masculine role in order to deceive the people when the couple intends to rob. Romantic scenes also allowed the movie to become a hit among the viewers. As the outlaw couple had a romantic relationship, Penn explored it at different points of the movie to entertain the readers. These scenes were both subtle and direct according to the mood of the scene. Breathless Outlaw couple Breathless is yet another movie belonging to the sub-genre of outlaw couple on the run. However, Breathless does not follow the typical pattern of the outlaw couple on the run movie. The protagonists in the movie do not generate the same amount of respect and confidence that other movies of the same genre generate. This is because the couple in Breathless lives in a conflict and thus fails to relate to the audience. In most outlaw couple on the run movies, the protagonists have a bond with each other that is high above any bond with other members of the society. Couples on the run have expectation only from each other and not from the society. However, in Breathless, Michael and Patricia do not trust each other completely. Michael’s lack of trust in Patricia is apparent from the fact that he does not tell Patricia the whole truth for why he is on the run. He uses Patricia for his own good and for him Patricia is only a means to his own survival. Similarly, Patricia does not have trust in Michael and this is apparent when she goes to the police with information about Michael’s whereabouts. She even makes sure that Michael gets caught as she tells him about her transgression at the last moment. Since this movie belonged to the genre of couple on the run movie, this fate was expected. Movies belonging to this genre usually end on a tragic note as forces outside the control of the couple constantly try to break the couple apart throughout the story; and since the love and trust between Michael and Patricia was not strong, they were finally torn apart from each other. Comparison The most basic difference between the two movies is the comedy and tragedy paradigm. Bonnie and Clyde has in itself a positivity that is lacking in Breathless. As viewers watch both the movies, they are able to perceive the ending. The viewer is aware that Breathless would probably end in the tragedy for the couple. This is because the couple in Breathless is plummeting towards a tragic end that is aided by the plot and the cinematography. Even though Bonnie and Clyde also depict no future for the couple but viewers have an optimistic approach that this couple may have a chance to succeed given their wit. Though the viewers have sympathy for both the couples, Bonnie and Clyde generate hope from the viewers that theirs would not be a tragic life. However, both the movies end on a tragic note. Bonnie and Clyde die in a blood bath after being ambushed by the police. In the same way, Michael is separated from Patricia through death. Death is the ultimate destiny of the couples who have broken law and order. The directors of both the movies believed in the justice system as they brought the culprits to their final end. But Patricia remained alive even in the end. This may have been because Jean-Luc portrayed Patricia as a victim rather than an offender. Patricia did not aid Michael in his wrong doings in a way that Bonnie helped Clyde with all the heists that they managed. Patricia was also not aware of the exact nature of the crime committed by Michael, and only kept him for the sake of their relationship. Another point of difference occurs in the relationship between the couples in the movie. The couple in breathless, though in love with each other, do not connect on a mental level. They do not see eye to eye on the same issue and they do not have the same level of trust as that of Bonnie and Clyde. It is for this reason that Patricia in Breathless goes to the police with the truth about her boyfriend. However, in Bonnie and Clyde, both have the same beliefs in themselves and the society. For them, they come first and then the society. Both of them are aware that they are fugitives and their only chance of survival is to stay together. Bonnie does not and would not think of going to the police to tell the truth about Clyde even though she could have had various chances if she had wanted to. In both the movies, it is the society that propels the couples to take the course of action that they do. For example, in Bonnie and Clyde, the depression era makes the couple want to explore illegal means for supporting their lifestyle. As they are unable to earn money through legal means, they take up illegal means. Even though this may not be right decision in the strictest sense but it is the society that defined the direction for the couple. In the same way, the couple in Breathless is forced to remain in hiding from the police. Their only chance of survival is with each other. The characterization of the couples in both the movies is also a great point of difference and impacts the way the viewers relate with the characters. Michael in Breathless is personified as a gangster who tries to maintain his rough look throughout the movie. He does not become soft or beaten down at any point in the movie. Patricia, in the movie, is shown as a victim of Michael who though has done no wrong by herself but is forced to defend Michael out of love and sense of obligation. While viewers sympathize with Patricia, they want to see Michael behind bars. Bonnie and Clyde, on the other hand, both have equal association with the public. Even though they are committing crimes, they public prays for their survival. They both generate the same amount of love and sympathy from the viewers. They are seen as the protagonists of the movie even though they commit more crimes than Michael. One similarity that we can find in the movies is in the carefree attitude of the characters. Even though, the characterization of the couples is at odds with each other, they have a similar carefree attitude. They are running away from the law and they understand that they may not survive for long but their attitude remains carefree. They are not afraid of the law and find the time to delve in their romantic fantasies with each other. Romance and sex is another common theme in the movies. One can argue that this is to be expected in a movie featuring young carefree couple who have no one to turn to but each other. Therefore, the directors have been made full use of the situation provided to them and developed a good chemistry between both the couples. Conclusion Both Bonnie and Clyde and Breathless belong to the same sub-genre of couple of the run movie, but their directors have developed the movies in a different way. We can say that Bonnie and Clyde has a more traditional structure of the couple of the run movie given the fact that this was movie that defined the elements of this particular sub-genre. In Breathless, Jean-Luc breaks some of the conventions in the way he develops the relationship between the two characters. While the two movies have all the elements of this genre, the tone and space of the movie differs along with the characterization of the key players. References Cook, Bernie, Thelma & Louise Live!: The Cultural Afterlife of an American Film, Texas: University of Texas Press, 2007, Print Read More