Notes. India Song. Duras

- Singing of a mad beggar woman from Laos, from Savannakhet, dead children she drops along the way, walking to Calcutta.
- Not about mad woman but of Embassy love affairs, of a French woman with her lover or lovers, young attaché, Vice Consul…
- Shadow, elongated shadow of a man cast on the stone steps of the villa. Folds like a black accordion.
- Smoke, incense or mosquito coil burning or the guy smoking. It is a French film after all: ‘People of France, a good looking depressed guy smoking a cigarette is not a movie?’ - Peter, Family Guy.
- mentioned mist after the wind.
- Disembodied Voices. Didn’t see any Indian in the film, despite title. Except an Indian waiter dressed in white, even the turban. But he is not a white Indian. Didn’t see the crowd in the ballroom, at the reception, only noises, the mad woman, the gossipers, the seagulls… actually we see no one else except the French woman and her lovers. We only hear voices. No Indian songs although mentioned ‘India Song’
- Other Names of Places, Lahore, Bengal, Calcutta, the Ganges, delta and islands. Wife of Spanish Ambassador. Shalimar Gardens. Shanghai and Spain. 1937.
- Mentioned tennis court, deserted tennis court, nothing to do with Tennis Court Oath, but led to an Oath or death of another kind
- Humidity, she has Venetian blood. Loves dancing but ‘no one’s dancing in this heat. Immobility is the only remedy’, and something about slowing blood circulation. The piano, out of tune because of the humidity.
- Reflection. Played a lot with the mirror 1) came into the frame from the right, she was in her red gown, it was her reflection, followed by her person. 2) She bends over the piano, in her red gown, he walks towards her, entering the scene from the left, once again, it is man who follows his reflection. Reminded the piano is in front of the mirror. 3) Bullet hole in the mirror, from the dialogue.
- Leprosy, ‘leprosy of heart’, he shot the lepers. Couldn’t see because of the mist. Boredom, ‘boredom is personal’ Writing, ‘You write?’ ‘I used to, thought I could.’ ‘Love can be shouted’ – Vice Consul who wants to stay over for just one night. ‘Never loved…’ suspects ever really. He is a virgin. He claims. ‘The air smells of mud and leprosy’