Alchemy of the Word

This short film offers a snapshot of the lives of two French poets living in very poor conditions in London. The two poets are Arthur Rimbaud (James Craven) and Paul Verlaine (Jordan Luke Gage), two well-known French poets. They are lovers in a volatile relationship, often under the influence of alcohol and hashish. The year is 1793, a very important year, as Arthur Rimbaud created A Season in Hell, for which he is best known. It's a collection of prose poems, including Alchemy of the Word.

I wasn't aware of these poets before watching this film. Although audiences will enjoy this without knowing the poets involved, I still recommend reading up on their lives and watching again to make the most of it. They both lived extraordinary lives and achieved a great deal at such a young age.

The setting is well chosen and really represents the squalor in which the two men live. This is a small space, although they do have the luxury of a bath. The lack of space makes everything feel claustrophobic, which brings the volatility and sexual tension right up close and personal. The director has described the film as a “lockdown film”. This is a very good description, and the audience will appreciate the struggle of being trapped at home. If you add alcohol and drugs into the mix, you have what is clearly a very difficult situation. The two men are also trying to be creative, and it is clear that one is struggling more than the other.

A lot is packed into the 14 minutes, and the director successfully conveys both men's personalities and a relationship full of excess. The best scenes are those where you see the poet’s descent into madness. The scenes are very trippy, and the use of colour is very effective. The camera work creates a strong visual effect and feels disorienting at times, which helps to convey the mental state of both men. This is powerful cinema, thanks to the direction and the lead actors' performances. Historians may argue that the set and costumes aren’t historically accurate for the period, and the director addresses this by explaining that she believes these are the kind of men who would dress dandy, even indoors. The costumes certainly reflect their creativity and their larger-than-life characters. It is staggering to see a young man who is only 19 achieving and experiencing more than most would at that age, particularly by modern standards.

The musical score is chaotic, mixing slow drum beats with orchestral strings. The music builds tension, especially when the characters show aggression. The score effectively represents the poet’s mental confusion. The audience cannot relax as the sounds build throughout the scenes. The musical score is crucial for conveying emotion, and in this case, the choice of music is perfect.

The actors skillfully move between scenes, which can change from pure sexual pleasure to physical aggression and then move into peace and tranquillity. The chemistry between the two leads is clear, and they bring realism to what appears to be an intense relationship. At times, it feels like the two poets are engaging in a dance as they move around the room. I thought this was very effective direction and added a great deal to the trippy scenes. The script was well written and delivered perfectly. I could certainly see this film developed into a successful stage play.

This is a very enjoyable film and educates the audience about two poets they may not have known before. The director clearly has a passion for the works of Arthur Rimbaud and successfully brings the poet to life. The leads achieve high standards and really bring the audience up close and personal. The audience will be fully immersed and will want to learn more about the men being portrayed. This is an intense love story which takes place in what appears to be a prison created by themselves.