Meeting Venus: A film about passion, and the outsider

Abstract

This paper discusses the conflict between lustful desire leading to an extramarital affair and loyalty to one's partner. Drawing a parallel between the hero of Wagner's opera and the conductor-hero of the film Meeting Venus, the consequences of being an “outsider” are being considered. Whereas Tannhäuser's conflict is resolved in that he finds salvation from the Virgin Mary, Szanto is abandoned by the woman he loved and by his wife. He remains an outsider and alone.

Keywords:

• Outsider
• war-child
• hostility
• passion
• imaginary conversation