The 1934 French film directed by Jean Vigo that is considered a masterpiece of poetic realism is L’Atalante. It follows newlyweds Jean and Juliette as they travel along French canals aboard the barge L’Atalante, alongside the eccentric Père Jules and a cabin boy.
Vigo developed the feature from an unproduced screenplay by Jean Guinée, rewriting it with Albert Riéra. Jean Dasté plays Jean, Dita Parlo plays Juliette, and Michel Simon gives the memorable performance of Père Jules. Cinematographer Boris Kaufman helped create the film’s dreamlike imagery of water, boats, cramped interiors, and drifting landscapes.
The film’s reputation grew dramatically after its troubled initial release. Gaumont shortened it from roughly 85 minutes to 65, retitled it Le Chaland qui passe, and inserted a popular song. Vigo died in October 1934 at only 29, shortly after the film’s release. Later restorations helped restore its standing as a landmark of poetic cinema and an enduring influence on filmmakers.