Discuss the complex treatment of identity and exile in Les Rendez-vous d’Anna and Histoires d’Amerique

Both films highlight the themes of identity and exile but in different ways and to different degrees. Nomadism is a recurring theme throughout both films and is of primary importance in pointing to the challenges facing individuals both in exile and in search of identity. Another central element in the two films which ties to problems of exile and identity is the depiction of Jews and the Diaspora of Eastern European Jews who exiled from their native countries to the west to avoid the Holocaust and the harsh treatment of Jews during the Second World War. The films focus mainly on how the second generation Jews of the Diaspora have been affected and have responded to exile in the west, particularly in New-York, which is exemplified in Histoires d’Amerique. The issue of memory will have to be discussed. It is important to note that it is almost impossible to discuss the treatment of identity separately to exile as they go hand in hand. In Histoires d’Amerique, exile has caused individuals to question their sense of identity whereas in Rendez-vous d’Anna it will be argued that loss of identity has caused a social exile, whether voluntary or involuntary. Therefore, both exile and identity in the films will be discussed concurrently.

Cinematic references are perhaps more key in Histoires d’Amerique than in Les Rendez-vous d’Anna in portraying exile and identity. Ironically, not much is shown to the viewer in images, but the very fact that not much is shown says that this film is more “realistic” than Les Rendez-vous d’Anna forcing the viewer to focus their attention more on what the characters have to say - which is what embodies the film. While in Les Rendez-vous d’Anna there is more scenery shown and more character movement - through trains and train stations especially but also through meetings in cafes, hotels, big cities, cars and the countryside -