Black Moon (1975)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Black Moon (1975) – L. Malle

Befuddling…in a good way; although the film could also be maddening to those trying hard to understand it (or who require a more linear plot).  A young blonde girl straight out of Alice in Wonderland is driving through what appears to be a warzone (and the war might just be between men and women).  After some unpleasant encounters, she makes it to a seemingly abandoned farmhouse (seemingly in France, although everyone speaks English; in reality it was Malle’s home).  Upstairs she finds an old woman talking to a giant rat (or possibly a marsupial of some kind); the woman uses a radio to communicate with others and seeks to keep Lily (not Alice) prisoner.  And then she seems to die and Lily escapes out the window where she sees Joe Dallesandro and a unicorn.  Later, Joe’s twin sister breastfeeds the old woman; subsequently Lily does the same and also maybe breastfeeds the unicorn.  Of course, this is all surreal, but played rather straight.  There are farm animals and naked children everywhere.  The animals sometimes speak (including the unicorn).  The landscape is autumnal and beautiful (shot by Sven Nykvist).  There is no clear way to understand the plot although some have alluded to a coming-of-age or sexual awakening that is occurring for Lily.  That is, if this is a dream to be interpreted psychoanalytically, then sometimes a unicorn is not a unicorn but Little Joe is the more obvious symbol.  Then again, a black moon in pagan times may be a chaotic period or a time for heightened magic.  Both are happening here.  Moreover, the backdrop of the seventies and the women’s movement and other social changes may have also influenced Malle.  Or so they say.  But your guess is as good as mine!