Massive marionnettes
July 31, 2005 12:31 PM Subscribe
Massive marionnettes in Nantes, France.
And I was just thinking of the havoc I could cause with a giant robotic elephant, too.
posted by Balisong at 1:12 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by Balisong at 1:12 PM on July 31, 2005
These marionnettes were constructed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jules Verne's death. The characters and scenes are taken directly from his stories.
posted by lilnemo at 1:12 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by lilnemo at 1:12 PM on July 31, 2005
Incredible. From what I can tell the "story" actually starts here on Thursday, May 19 -- with the crash landing of a space rocket -- and progresses through the city of Nantes, ending on Sunday, May 22 with the "girl" taking off in the rocket. It is a reenactment in honor of the centennnial of Jules Verne's death.
posted by ericb at 1:14 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by ericb at 1:14 PM on July 31, 2005
Cool - impressive stuff. And I thought our gigantes were impressive!
posted by benzo8 at 1:14 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by benzo8 at 1:14 PM on July 31, 2005
And here is the press kit (warning:pdf). Apparently there will be various exhibitions running through October '06.
posted by lilnemo at 1:20 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by lilnemo at 1:20 PM on July 31, 2005
Thanks lilnemo, I have always wanted furtinure that urinates continuously I just didn't realize!!
posted by longsleeves at 1:27 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by longsleeves at 1:27 PM on July 31, 2005
I love these--i wish we did stuff like this.
And I thought our gigantes were impressive!
Yours are (i caught a Sta Eulalia thing with them ages ago there)
posted by amberglow at 1:32 PM on July 31, 2005
And I thought our gigantes were impressive!
Yours are (i caught a Sta Eulalia thing with them ages ago there)
posted by amberglow at 1:32 PM on July 31, 2005
Video mix [wmv] of the event; from the videos on the page.
posted by glider at 1:54 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by glider at 1:54 PM on July 31, 2005
I love the part in the video when the girl marionette was rubbing her face with the giant lollypop in a "licking" motion.
It would have been sweeter if she started backhanding spectators with it though...
posted by parallax7d at 2:02 PM on July 31, 2005
It would have been sweeter if she started backhanding spectators with it though...
posted by parallax7d at 2:02 PM on July 31, 2005
It would have been sweeter if she started backhanding spectators with it though...
Ala. Sauron in the opening of LOTR? That would be a show to remember!
posted by Balisong at 2:05 PM on July 31, 2005
I for one welcome our new marionette overlords.
posted by hifiparasol at 2:07 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by hifiparasol at 2:07 PM on July 31, 2005
In 1986, I came upon a bunch of actors who were giving a free public performance in my street. They were playing some sort of 19th century melodrama, with heavy makeup, a lot of screaming and over-the-top acting. It was fun but nothing remarkable, until things started to get rough. To the amazement of the spectators, blood started flowing, body parts started flying, characters got dismembered and killed in increasingly gruesome ways. The quaint melodrama had turned into a bloodbath and Grand Guignol had met the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in a nice little sunny, peaceful street of Toulouse in front of a delighted, though a little bit shaken, audience. Only years later did I learn the name of the company, Royal de Luxe, once they had become successful with their giant-based 360° performances.
posted by elgilito at 3:09 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by elgilito at 3:09 PM on July 31, 2005
It must nice to live in a country where they do things like this, and do it without naming it after a sponsor and slapping logos and advertising on every vertical surface in sight.
posted by George_Spiggott at 3:28 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by George_Spiggott at 3:28 PM on July 31, 2005
This reminds me of the Vermont group Bread and Puppet. I miss their Domestic Resurrection Circus and Pageant that used to be held in Vermont every year. If you don't know their work, you should check out their pagentry
that includes both human size and giant puppets. They still perform, they just no longer have their giant annual event in Vermont.
posted by nyc stories at 4:38 PM on July 31, 2005
that includes both human size and giant puppets. They still perform, they just no longer have their giant annual event in Vermont.
posted by nyc stories at 4:38 PM on July 31, 2005
George_Spiggott, I'm not sure if you live in the US or not, but you may have heard of The Gates. That very public art experience had no sponsors slapping their logos on every vertical surface in sight.
posted by soiled cowboy at 4:44 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by soiled cowboy at 4:44 PM on July 31, 2005
Dangit, I was hoping that this was an update or new Royal de Luxe event. Tease.
posted by loquacious at 4:52 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by loquacious at 4:52 PM on July 31, 2005
benzo8, I was totally thinking the same thing. The BCN gigantes are awesome. Hell, BCN is awesome. Such a great city.
nyc stories, there's no more B&P?! Crazy. I went in '93 and had a blast. I had no idea it ended in '98. How sad. Thanks for the link/update.
posted by shoepal at 8:34 PM on July 31, 2005
nyc stories, there's no more B&P?! Crazy. I went in '93 and had a blast. I had no idea it ended in '98. How sad. Thanks for the link/update.
posted by shoepal at 8:34 PM on July 31, 2005
It's so inspiring! Good lord I love it! Sorry if it was referenced before. I REALLY like it!
posted by mildred-pitt at 11:31 PM on July 31, 2005
posted by mildred-pitt at 11:31 PM on July 31, 2005
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posted by Balisong at 12:57 PM on July 31, 2005