The Tale of the Eiffel Tower
Novella with modernist overtones in which the Eiffel Tower comes to life and lumbers off from the Champs des Mars.
About the text
This excerpt from Joakim Naken was published in BLM with the following summary: “This scene is from Ingmar Bergman’s as yet unperformed play Joakim Naken. The plot unfolds in Lyon at the turn of the century, where Joakim works as a director in one of the world’s first cinematographic studios. Burdened by personal and artistic difficulties, he changes places with another person and now lives incognito in a boarding room. Here, he speaks with the hostess’ daughter, Marthe.”
Joakim: I’ve been looking at this painting of the Paris Exposition.
Marthe: Oh, that one!
Joakim: The Eiffel Tower.
Marthe: (Nods silently).
Joakim: Have you ever seen a cinematograph?
Marthe: (Shakes her head).
Joakim: They’re like moving paintings, project on a white screen.
Marthe: In different colours?
Joakim: Yes. Well, sometimes. That’s a little more difficult. Usually they’re in black and white.
Marthe: So you could make a moving painting of Mother, when she goes and buys tomatoes which are playing cellos…
Joakim: - or of Marthe, standing in the tub and washing herself. Completely naked in the sunshine. Anything is possible.
BLM 22, No. 7, November 1953, pgs. 498-500.