Carnival in Flanders (1935)

 Jacques Feyder's "Carnival in Flanders"

Perhaps French director Jacques Feyder's most memorable film is 1935's "Carnival in Flanders." It's a satirical comedy that, since its release, has caused much controversy and uncertainty. The film was either banned or praised but received a strong reaction from all nonetheless.

The film is set in 1616 in a small town called Boom as it prepares for a carnival. However, upon hearing that the occupying Spanish forces are set to visit the town, the town council of men grow cowardice and incite fear that the women of the town will be raped and pillaged. The town leader, Korbus, hatches a plan to pretend to be dead upon their visit. His wife, Cornelia, has other plans. When the Spanish march in, they are welcomed by the women on the town and are treated to the carnival. The men grow in paranoia and hide from the Spaniards as the women run the stores and inns. The women, because of their increased responsibility and power after the men hide away, demonstrate a far greater sexual liberation in juxtaposition to the raping and pillaging the men feared in the beginning. Because of this warm hospitality by the women, the town is awarded remission on taxes for the next year.

The main satirical and politic conceit of the film is feminine liberation. The politics of the sexes are the main driving point and illustrate the social dynamics at play. It is for this reason that the film experienced backlash. The film was banned in countries like Germany and Belgium and was heavily protested in the Netherlands by fascists and right-wing authoritarian groups. However, the film was very successful in France. Years later Francois Truffaut would write about the film in negative terms, stating that the film was too tame in its boldness. He believed that much of the progressiveness of the story is undermined by its half-baked ideas and felt that "everything in it is incomplete, its boldness is attenuated; it is reasonable and measured, its doors are half-open, the paths are sketched and only sketched; everything in it is pleasant and perfect." 

Despite all of this commentary on the film, it is also widely praised for its extensive set and costume designs. The work that was put in to making a replica of 17th century Netherlands was praised by critics everywhere. Much of the impressive design of the town was attributed to 17th century Flemish paintings. Even the blocking of the characters mimicked the positions of classical works. 

Despite Jacques Feyder being a renowned French filmmaker in his time, his works are often overlooked in comparison to the explosion of works during this French poetic-realist period. The works of Renoir, Carne, and Duvivier all outshine Feyder and he often forgotten in film history. However, his peak, "Carnival in Flanders" will undoubtedly be the most cherished in his discography and a cherished French contribution to 1930s cinema.