Jacques Prever is a famous French poet and screenwriter. Jacques became famous for his talent in the cinema sphere. The fame of the poet and songwriter did not pass even today - Prever’s work remains as popular and relevant as in the twentieth century. The younger generation is still interested in the activities of such a talented person.
Biography of screenwriter, poet and songwriter
The biography of Jacques Prevert began in the French town of Neuilly sir Sen. The screenwriter was born on February 4, 1900.
At age 15, Jacques Prever left school and went to Paris. The young man preferred boring school weekdays to the idle tabloid life of Paris, where life was gaining momentum. Jacques Prevert lived all those events that took place in the very center of Paris, actively participating in all the events of the boulevards.
With the end of the war in the country, surrealistic views gained immense success. Jacques Prever actively supported these moods. Then the budding poet and screenwriter made friends with Picasso, Dali, Ernst and many other representatives of the art of this period.
At the same time, Jacques Prever became very close to people who supported the communist movement. The young man even entered the ranks of the members of the variety campaign “October”. At this time, Jacques Prever’s poems, songs, scripts that exposed all the shortcomings of capitalism were published.
Trip to the Soviet Union
Together with the entire October group, the songwriter Jacques Prever went to the territory of the USSR. The group was invited to a meeting at which she was to speak. Caustic verses in French, which opened people's eyes to the former capitalism, gathered full audiences. Before leaving the Soviet Union, “October” was invited to personally meet with Joseph Stalin to express his respect and gratitude. Despite the fact that Jacques was persuaded for a long time, he did not agree to this meeting. Prever was a great authority in this group, so all its members followed suit.
Political Views
The October group actively communicated with the Left. Particular communication took place between the group and Louis Aragon, who at that time headed the department of culture of the CPSU Central Committee. It must be said that Aragon wrote his poems in French. Despite the fact that all members of the group were in a trusting relationship with Louis, Jacques preferred to keep a certain distance. Prever always responded to invitations to join the Communist Party by saying that he "did not want to be put in a prison cell." The poet was not at all interested in politics. He always opposed the rule of religion. Jacques also opposed violence, while remaining an ardent hater of the bourgeois class. Dali spoke of Prever: “He is fighting evil as if it were a bomb. In fact, these are just firecrackers. ”
Cunning
In order not to get into the French army to undergo compulsory military service, Jacques pretended to be crazy. However, even in this, Prever used his innate artistry, invariably using a pipe or cigarette.
Often, Jacques pretended to be a womanizer, who suffers from star fever. In fact, Prever never suffered from a lack of female attention. Among his lovers can be called famous actresses, television and film stars of the time. This was due to the fact that the poet was a handsome man who always looked flawless: fashionable and perfectly fitting costumes, a beautiful and fashionable hairstyle. At the same time, the poet had an amazing talent: every time he parted with another woman, he managed to stay friends with her for many years.
Screenwriting
Jacques Prevert was called a screenwriter after he began to write scripts for various films. Those films that were shot according to the scripts of the poet were shot by the most famous directors.
There was one unique feature in Prever’s work - the screenwriter was able to beautifully combine high poetry with realism. The most famous film, scripted by Jacques Prevert (France), was the film "Children of Paradise." The film was recognized as the best picture of the twentieth century. Arletti called Jacques "a brilliant poet of the screen."
Musical creativity
Prever was also known as a poet creating great songs. About two hundred audio recordings were created, which were based on the poems of Jacques. All pop stars had in their repertoire at least one song, the author of which was a poet. The “Fallen Leaves” by Jacques Prevert became a sensation when the poem put on music was performed by Edith Piaf. The song immediately became known throughout the world. Yves Montand in 1954 received the "Golden Disc" for the performance of "Fallen Leaves" by Jacques Prevert. The song has been repeatedly performed by other representatives of the world music scene.
I must say that you can meet such a name of this musical work as “Dead Leaves”. This is the same work as The Fallen Leaves, here everything depends on the translation and the meaning of the poetic lines.
Poetic direction
As a poet, Jacques published the collection of Words in 1946. For the name of his collection, the poet was severely criticized. Many of his comrades in the field of activity believed that words are always erased and forgotten over time. The works that poets and writers left behind should remain forever.
Today, this 250-page publication is known worldwide. The collection includes all those poems that Prever wrote exclusively for himself. Three million copies (the collection was printed in precisely this edition) were sold instantly. Every poet and writer could dream of such fame and popularity.
In his works, the poet always managed to show the familiar and ordinary from a completely different perspective. The writer addressed important human issues. He worried about future generations, for their development. All this poured into his lyrics, which was a huge success.
The most important thing is that the modern literary public is well acquainted with the work of Prever.
Criticism of the poet
Many of those who study the culture of the last century today are wondering how did Jacques so quickly achieve such a sudden upsurge and fame throughout France? In addition, it is important to say that today the poet is a very famous person who is not oblivious. Almost every educated person can name at least one work of Prever.
I want to say that in all the newspapers of the last century, his poetry was described differently: many sharply criticized his work, many, on the contrary, praised. There were a huge number of articles that were devoted to the work of Prever. Even many and other literary figures had different attitudes toward Jacques' poetry. For example, the same Sartre considered Prever a master of his craft, while Camus spoke of the poet as if he were a lyrical clown.
However, it is important to note that Jacques became a reformer in the field of free verse. His poems often did not contain rhymes, but remained musical. The works always felt their own, special rhythm. The poems of the poet also do not have any punctuation marks, which already indicates that Jacques allowed readers to pause on their own in places where they wish. This was also said by the writer, screenwriter, songwriter and part-time poet.
Reviews of modern readers
As is characteristic of the reader, each has a different attitude to the work of Prever. Many are in love with Jacques' lyric works, while others simply do not understand why they have talked so much about the poet and are talking today.
Do not forget that Jacques is a representative of free poetry. What does this mean? A free verse is a poetic work that has no rhyme. Most likely, negative reviews are due to this fact. In the understanding of people, the perception of poems is firmly entrenched as something that is a rhymed text. In the work of Prever this can not be found.
In addition, that particular rhythm that appears during reading is doubtful, because there are no punctuation marks in the works. Looking at any poem, you can see that there are no commas in the lines or between them. As the author himself said, he allowed the reader to choose exactly the intonation that he wants.
Positive reviews suggest that the works are imbued with particular longing. A certain romance of such works is that they are able to immerse the reader in languid anguish. This feeling that poetry evokes is very much appreciated today. The love lyrics that came out of Jacques’s hands can captivate every reader. The feelings that the author conveys on paper can also be felt by himself, sometimes moved to tears.
If we are not talking about love lyrics, but about the rest of the works of the scriptwriter, it is important to say that he touched and touched on very important problems of the public. Poems about the war, like wonderful songs, inspire hope for a bright future, in which there will no longer be a place for war and death. Philosophical works make you think about really important things that surround each of us.
The works that were written in the October group were very caustic and mocking. The sharpness of words was felt in each line of the poem.
Conclusion
You can talk a lot about the work of such a person as Jacques Prever. However, it is worth remembering that such a famous personality was very versatile. After such a huge success, which has been talked about so many years later, one cannot doubt Jacques talent. Having left such a huge literary heritage to their descendants, modern representatives of culture and society should appreciate what such an outstanding person has done for the development of spirituality.