Confronting Existential Dilemmas: An In-Depth Analysis of Vicky Cristina Barcelona through the Philosophies of Sartre and Camus

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2024.626

Keywords:

Existentialism, Sartre, Camus, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen, Individual freedom

Abstract

In this paper, the author analyzes Woody Allen's film Vicky Cristina Barcelona through an existential lens, drawing parallels with the philosophies of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. The characters Vicky, Cristina, Juan Antonio, and María Elena embody existential dilemmas, exploring themes of individual freedom, choice, and the search for meaning in an indifferent world. The analysis delves into Sartrean concepts of bad faith and radical freedom, contrasting Vicky's societal conformity with Cristina's Camusian pursuit of meaning through experiences. The characters' interactions reflect the unpredictable and absurd nature of human relationships, echoing Camus's exploration of the absurdity of emotions. The non-linear narrative structure aligns with existential themes, emphasizing life's unpredictability, and Barcelona serves as a metaphor for the complexities of existence. Woody Allen's narrative and artistic choices invite viewers to reflect on the intricate interplay of love, desire, and chance encounters in the context of existentialism.

Author Biography

Debarath Das, Tripura University

MA in English

References

Allen, W. (2008). Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Perdido Productions.

Camus, A. (1989). The Stranger. Translated by Matthew Ward, Vintage International.

Camus, A. (1991). The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Translated by Justin O'Brien, Vintage International.

Curry, R. R. (2013). Woody Allen's Grand Scheme. In P. Bailey and S. Girgus (Eds.) A Companion to Woody Allen (pp. 277-293). Wiley.

Girgus, S. B. (2008). [Review of Vicky Cristina Barcelona, by L. Aronson, G. Wiley, S. Tenenbaum, & W. Allen]. Cinéaste, 34(1), 55–57. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41690735.

Lee, S. (2013). Love, Meaning, and God in the Later Films of Woody Allen. In P. Bailey and S. Girgus (Eds.) A Companion to Woody Allen (pp. 504-519). Wiley.

Sartre, JP. (1956). Being and Nothingness. Translated by Hazel E. Barnes, Philosophical Library.

Sayad, C. (2011). The Auteur as Fool: Bakhtin, Barthes, and the Screen Performances of Woody Allen and Jean-Luc Godard. Journal of Film and Video, 63(4), 21–34. https://doi.org/10.5406/jfilmvideo.63.4.0021.

Stone, A. A. (2009). Woody Allen and Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona. Psychiatric Times, 26(5), 14. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A199396932/AONE.

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Published

2024-12-03

How to Cite

Das, D. (2024). Confronting Existential Dilemmas: An In-Depth Analysis of Vicky Cristina Barcelona through the Philosophies of Sartre and Camus. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 12(2), 144–151. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2024.626

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024): Fall

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2024 Debarath Das

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