The Blue Angel

The scene that I choose from the film is the one where the professor goes to the cabaret for the first time, with the intention of catching his students there and subsequently disciplining them. I think the viewer begins to see the real person inside the professor, who exudes an impression of being a hard task master. This event begins a series of transformations that the professor is due to undergo. In the end we see, the professor in complete contrast to the person that he initially was. So, his first visit to the cabaret is pivotal in the character’s transformation.

1. How would you compare Rath/Lola to Siddhartha/Kamala?

To begin with, there are similarities between Rath/Lola and Siddhartha/Kamala characters. Though set in different time periods, this is a case where the west meets the east. Seduction is a common language employed like by woman like Lola or Kamala, although I reckon the motivation of the women are different. In Lola’s case she is shown as a seductress who can play with the emotions of men to use to her advantage. Kamala on the other hand is not shown to be conniving; in fact she encourages Siddhartha to get a job and gets him to learn new things. Lola’s manipulation and subsequent humiliation of Rath leads him to absolute shame and we see in the end that he dies. Siddhartha manages to come out of the situation, and it can be said that he learnt from his mistake and decides to go back to his former life. Two different stories, similar plot, but different endings.

2. Is Lola an emancipated woman or “totally impassive?”

Lola is portrayed to be an impassive woman, who has no emotions to begin with. Even if she had, she never showed them in a genuine way.

3. What is the significance of the clown.

A clown in real life is a stupid person. The clown in the movie signifies the change in the professor as he goes from being an intellectual person to a puppet.

4.  How is chaos thematically represented in the film?

Chaos has many representations in the film. It must be noted that chaos

is mainly shown to present the changes in the professor’s life, as he goes from being a respected professor to a lowly puppet and finally ending his life.

5. How would interpret the overall meaning of the film.

The film brings a message that lust can be a very powerful emotion. The professor fell in love with Lola on the basic premise that she was a beautiful woman. He did not see her true nature, all he saw was her facial beauty. So the interpretation of the film is that lust or blind love in most times brings misery.

6. Why did I compare Rath to the Haussmann painting/montage. Would you suggest a better comparison.

Rath was the personification of perfection in his life as a professor. The Haussmann paintings portrayed a  revolt against the status quo. Rath transformation was a revolt in a subtle manner against the way of his present life. So in essence Rath’ s life and the painting are similar as it signifies change.