La Belle et la Bete aka The Beauty and the Beast, written and directed by Jean Cocteau - 9.4 out of 10

La Belle et la Bete aka The Beauty and the Beast, written and directed by Jean Cocteau
9.4 out of 10


The Beauty and the Beast has seen many transformation, the most recent remake has introduced a modern element of homosexuality- which has made the censors in some countries limit its release or ban it altogether...one was Russia?

Notwithstanding the tremendous commercial success of later adaptations, it may well be that the 1946 production will remain the best, perhaps by a long shot.
This version is included on The New York Times' Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made List.
Given the box office results, it will surely be transformed yet again, with more dazzlingly special effects and complications in the plot that would maybe have Avengers, Spider Men or/and X-men, werewolves and other figures populate the big screen.

Originally though, Jean Cocteau has created an immortal love story, with the perenniall message that:

'Love may turn a lover into a beast and a creature aka beast into a beautiful human being'

The French dialogue and script are more subtle, given the complex significant of La Bete aka The Beast.
There are times when it refers to a creature, a beast, but in French, it also means silly, stupid.

Therefore, in the approximate quote given above and other instances, we can take it that love makes you act in a silly manner and it can also make a simple individual outstandingly smart, or at least in Emotional Intelligence terms.
The motion picture seems to contradict in some way, but it could well confirm in another, the substance of the quintessential classic Blink, The Power of Thinking without Thinking.

Blink is a masterpiece by the genius who may be, or at least together with Daniel Kahnrman, if not alone, the most influential psychology expert of our time, Malcolm Gladwell.
The book looks at the Harding Effect and the way we from an opinion in a very short time, otherwise, we can refer also to the Thin Slicing Theory.

Consequently, we could say that Belle has the wrong opinion when she meets La Bete.
She is, like everyone else, horrified by the creature.

For the long term though, as everybody knows, she would come to accept, then respect and finally admire The Beast.
Is this a case of 'habits as second nature'?

Positive psychology recommends the adoption of rituals, as Harvard Professor Tal Ben-Shahar names them.
If you take the habit of accepting a Bete, you may end up loving it for ever after...and live happily?

In a book by our own, native philosopher Constantin Noica, the idea of proverbs and sayings is rejected.
At least in the interpretation and use they are most often given.

You can't have the cake and eat it was one case in point.
It is when you eat the cake that you most have it, for it is in the process of becoming part of your body.

People use 'do not chase after two rabbits, for you will catch none of them' to signify do not try to learn two languages for instance, when you should try for three or more, if you can.
At the same time, the idea of chasing animals of any kind will soon be of just revolting, but a specific of less advanced civilizations.

For La Belle et La Bete, it is 'appearances deceive' that comes to mind.
No, in general, the individual that is aggressive, rude, abusive when driving, or walking on the street is just what he looks like...a Trump.

La Bete is the exception, but even if it looks like the devil, it's appearance is still a good piece of information, for it is so gentle and kind to Belle.