Photo Essay
delirium
DYUTIMAN MUKHOPADHYAY
“I think she's American...a friend of mine told me about her. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you? Fleur...your temperature! Do you want to go see if that listening booth still works? There's wind that blows in from the north. You woke up, and you smiled at someone next to you. Come here. Have I never laid down by your side? I can't be your husband, so I will be your lover. I will teach you vices that you can't even conceive of. There are several souls inside of you. Two souls, alas, are dwelling in my breast. No, I'm not impossible to touch. Touch them. And feel the tapping. I was desperate. I have never wanted you so much. Who is with Pierre? Do you have other mistresses?
I have a new girl. Don't startle her...it's her first time. I love you more every day. Sophia is standing in front of me. She's touching my hands. She's speaking. What is she saying? I can't hear her. Yes, yes you can. I want to be photographed in poses that morality condemns. When would you like to start? You are nice and sweet. It's the type that does well around here. What if you are called 'Belle de Jour'? If you wish. Yes, I feel something important is happening around me. And it scares me.
You were 50 years old and you were happy. In this dream, was there someone else? I don't know who. That's what will happen? In 20 or 25 years? There are no answers, only choices. I shouldn't have done that. We shouldn't have done that. At Anaïs 11 Cité Jean de Saumur. I don't know how to describe what we are experiencing up here. We are in a situation that is beyond morality.
Do you have somebody waiting for you? A boyfriend? A husband? I can't help you like that. How will you try to help me then? Huh? I needed to see you. Without your husband of course. But I don't want that! I know. But it will help you. Enough to betray a friendship? Has he become demanding? What are you thinking about? About us. Don't be afraid. Chris, what is it? Make yourself at home. I love you so much. I am here to help you. Don't you love me anymore? Does he not want to share?
Everything we've done is forgiven. Follow me. Keep looking into my eyes. Hear my voice. Everything else will disappear. Close your eyes as you breathe in. And open them again as you breathe out. In…Out. In…Out. Feel the weight of your limbs. Let yourself fall. Where are you now? I'm in my room. No matter what happens, you'll let it happen. I'm here. I'll count from three to one. On One, you'll wake up.
It's modern. Everyone likes love stories, especially scandalous ones. Did I scandalize you? What would you know about love?
Three...Two...One!
Finished? Have you Doctor? “
— A short story based on disjointed, scrambled dialogues from six different films.
(Belle de Jour, 1967, Dir: Luis Buñuel; Three Colours: Red, 1994, Dir: Krzysztof Kieslowski; Before Sunrise, 1995, Dir: Richard Linklater; Solaris, 2002, Dir: Steven Soderbergh; Curiosa, 2019, Dir: Lou Jeunet; and from Freud-TV series, 2020, Dir: Marvin Kren).
THEME—PHOTO ESSAY—delirium
—Digital-art with license-free online images.
Dated: November 18, 2023, Bangalore, India.
A collage of six film actors who inspire me—
Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour), Irène Jacob (Three Colours: Red), Julie Delpy (Before Sunrise), Natascha McElhone (Solaris), Noémie Merlant (Curiosa), and Ella Rumpf (Freud).