"Foam of the Daze" and "Mood Indigo" (Lécume des jours) by Boris Vian

Out of curiosity and pleasure (of course) I read the two English language translations of Boris Vian's "L´ecume des jours that is now out on the market.  "Mood Indigo" was translated in 1967 by Stanley Chapman, and my edition (TamTam Books) was translated about ten years ago.  The Brian Harper translation is called "Foam of the Daze."   The original Chapman edition was called "Froth on a Daydream."  Both translated titles are good, and tricky, due to the poetic title that is "L'´ecume des jours."   The edition published by FSG is called "Mood Indigo" to tie in with film by Michel Gondry, which for some odd reason they're naming it after the original American translation that came out in the 60s as well and published by the great Grove Press.  The title "Mood Indigo" is puzzling, because one, the song "Mood Indigo" is not mentioned at all in the book nor film as far I can remember.  Although the song is co-written by the great Duke Ellington, who for sure has an important presence in the Vian book.  There are numerous mentions of the song by Ellington called "Chloe, which is an incredible piece of music, but also one of the main characters in the novel is named after the song.
Besides that point, both translations of the Vian novel reads very well.  The reasons why I didn't use Chapman's translation was that I felt that it needed a new and fresh translation, and Brian Harper, an American who lives in Paris, kept all the ingredients that makes the book great.

the actor Robert Hutton who Vian based the character (at least visually) "Colin" on.

Chapman is a tad playful with his translation, which is OK, but it really bugs me when he describes the main character Colin as a "fair-headed Jean Bellpull Rondeau in a film by Jacques Goon Luddard."  In the original French edition of the book, as well as in Harper's (TamTam Books) "Foam of the Daze the character is described as the blond actor who plays the role of Slim in "Hollywood Canteen."  The role "Slim" is played by actor Robert Hutton.  So that was the visual image that Vian had in mind with respect to Colin.   Also keep in mind that Lécume des jours was written and published in 1947.   The film made by Jean-Luc Godard (Jacques Goon Luddard) was shot in 1959, and came out in France in 1960.  One of the other characters in the book is named Alise, but for whatever reasons Chapman re-titled her name as "Alyssum" in "Mood Indigo (Froth on a Daydream).   Alyssum I believe to be a type of flower, so Chapman may have used her name as a pun, with respect to the plants and flowers that are listed in the book.   Another example of Chapman playing with a name is the cookbook that Colin's chef/friend uses throughout the book that was written in the 19th century.  Jules Gouffé is known as a great chef, and his cookbook from the 19th century is very well-known in France.   In "Mood Indigo" the chef's name is "ffroydde," which I don't fully understand if it is a pun.  So, Chapman plays with titles and names throughout the book, yet, his narrative style is very good.  I just question his choices of names and titles, when they are clearly stated in the original French text by Vian.

 Also "Foam of the Daze" is based on the 1994 French edition prepared by Gilbert Rybalka and Michel Rybalka.  With endnotes by those gentlemen as well as by its translator Brian Harper.   Brian also wrote a beautiful introduction to his translation.  Also interesting to note, is that Chapman who is British, for sure has his national language in "Mood Indigo," while "Foam of the Daze" is very much American English.   A slight difference, but it's interesting to note that.  Vian had an appreciation for British literature (for instance Nicolas is based partly on P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves) but yet, I feel that American English is the proper language use in Vian's translated works in English - especially with respect to his Vernon Sulllivan novels which takes place in America - which ironically enough, Vian never visited the States.    In the nutshell it is a lot of fun to read both translations side-by-side, and its easy to do, due to the fact that the chapters are short and concise.   Movie or no movie, it is great that the Stanley Chapman translation is out - and without a doubt "L'écume des jours is an excellent book - wharever it is translated by Chapman or Brian Harper - it's a classic and it reads well in  (both translated versions) in English.

Drafthouse Films to distribute Michel Gondry's "Mood Indigo" (Foam of the Daze)

Boris Vian's hero Duke Ellington 

At last!  Sometime this year us Americans will be able to view Michel Gondry's version of Boris Vian's classic "Foam of the Daze" (L'écume des jours).  The film will be called "Mood Indigo."  No official release date as far as I know.

Read about it here.   

http://drafthousefilms.com/blog/entry/drafthouse-films-to-deliver-michel-gondrys-mood-indigo

The Japanese Trailer for "Mood Indigo"

Slowly but surely it is being released around the world, but no word yet about an U.S. release.  I haven't seen the film, but what I have heard is not that hot.  Also the music used in this trailer really sucks.  But nevertheless the novel by Boris Vian is magnificent and I published it through TamTam Books.  My edition is called "Foam of the Daze" and it is translated from the French into English by Brian Harper.  The book includes detailed end-notes that one can read after the book.  Think of it as the bonus documentary on a DVD.

Update on Michel Gondry's "Mood Indigo" and the 3 translated versions of L'écume des jours

I don't have that much information about Michel Gondry's  film version of Boris Vian's "L'écume des jours except that they're cutting over 30 minutes out of the film for the international market.   And at this moment there's no release date for the U.S. 

The English language title of the film is "Mood Indigo," which was the original translated title by John Sturrock for Grove Press in the U.S.  There was another translation around the same time in the U.K. by Stanley Chapman called "Froth On The Daydream."   Both are out of print, but the Chapman translation will be published in the U.S. by FSG in 2014.  There might be some confusion because that edition will be titled like the film "Mood Indigo."  But do keep in mind Chapman's original title for his translation.

Meanwhile my press, TamTam Books, published Brian Harper's translation of L'écume des jours titled "Foam Of The Daze."   The book comes with detailed endnotes regarding the issues of translation as well as facts about Vian regarding his life during the writing of this book, as well as on the people he knew that shows up in the fictional novel.   "Foam Of The Daze"  is in print and you can get it at your favorite bookstore as well as online shops.

James Sallis' Review of Boris Vian's "Foam of the Daze" (L'écume des

A legend throughout Europe - French musician, translator of Raymond Chandler and seminal science fiction writer, poet, songwriter, novelist and screen actor - Boris Vian remains little known in the United States. Los Angeles-based TamTam Book aims to correct this, having published a paperback edition of Vian's landmark thriller "I Spit on Your Graves" in 2001 and now a new translation of his masterful "Foam of the Daze" (L'Ecume des jours"), with the first translation of "L'Automne à Pékin" to follow.

There have been two previous English translations of "Foam": Stanley Chapman's 1967 British edition, "Froth on the Daydream," and Jon Sturrock's U.S. version, "Mood Indigo," which appeared shortly thereafter. Chapman's is by far the superior, admirably transposing Vian's rhythms into English and finding equivalents for his multi-level puns and wordplay. But Brian Harper's hip new translation, edged toward the modern U.S. reader, may well become the standard.

This is a great novel, mind you. Though on its surface, the simplest of stories - Vian summed it up as "a man loves a woman, she falls ill, she dies" - beneath are a host of ambiguities, digressions, levels of meaning. Not quite beneath actually, for subtexts keep erupting to the surface. It is in many ways a novel built of eruptions.

Simply, then, this is a tale of two couples: Colin, a rich and rather superfluous man, and Chloe, a woman dying from a lily growing in her lung; Chick, whose life is ruined by his collecting of Jean-Sol Partre's books and memorabilia, and Alise, who tries to save Chick from himself by murdering Partre. As the lily grows in Chloe's lung, Colin does all he can to keep her alive. But her bed sinks closer to the ground and the room grows ever smaller. Because Colin has no money left to pay for burial, Chloe's coffin is simply thrown out the window.

In Vian's world, nothing is simple, nothing may be taken for granted. Because people they love have died, mice persuade diffident cats to kill them; bells detach themselves from doors to come and announce visitors; neckties rebel against being knotted; some broken windowpanes grow back overnight while others darken from breathing difficulties; a piano mixes cocktails to match the music being played upon it; armchairs and sausages must be calmed before use. When Colin puts Duke Ellington's "The Mood to Be Wooed" on the phonograph, the O's on the record label cause the corners of the room to become round.

In Vian's books, the world becomes ineluctably strange, the world as a child or a madman might see it. And that's the recipe for "Foam of the Daze," a novel with paradox at its heart, as critic David Meakin has observed: one part light-hearted fantasy, one part tragedy. Add wordplay and romance to taste. Your heart will be broken. You will be confused and confounded. You will laugh aloud. And at least for a time, however hard you try, your own world will refuse to be what you think it is.

Here is Colin in church after Chloe's death:
"Why did you have her die?" asked Colin.
Oh... said Jesus, drop the subject.
He looked for a more comfortable position on his nails.
She was so sweet, said Colin. Never was she bad, neither in thought, nor in action.
That has nothing to do with religion, mumbled Jesus, yawning. He shook his head a little to change the slant of his crown of thorns.
I don't see what we've done, said Colin, we don't deserve this.

He lowered his eyes... Jesus's chest was rising softly and regularly, his features breathed calm, his eyes had closed and Colin could hear a light purr of satisfaction coming from his nostrils, like a sated cat."

Vian died June 23, 1959, at 39 as he sat watching a film version of his thriller "I Spit on Your Graves." He'd neglected to take his heart medications that morning and as the first frames ticked by on screen, he is said to have uttered, "These guys are supposed to be American? My ass!" and collapsed.

Vian's was a short, very full, very strange ride, like that of his ever-youthful characters in "Foam of the Daze."

James Sallis, Los Angeles Times Book Review (Sunday, February 1, 2004).

The English Subtitled "Mood Indigo" preview

Well, this is the first subtitled version of the preview I have come across (so far).  No official U.S. release date at this time.  Also a reminder that anyone who wants to read the English version of the  Boris Vian novel "L'écume des jours can do so with my press which published a beautiful translation by Brian Harper called "Foam of the Daze." The TamTam edition also comes with endnotes detailing specific aspecs of this novel with respect to Vian's life, etc.

The Latest L'écume des jours Coming Attraction

Another and more recent preview of Michel Gondry's cinematic production of Boris Vian's classic "L'écume des jours.  My press TamTam Books publishes the English language translation of this novel which is called "Foam of the Daze."  Translated by Brian Harper with endnotes explaining the various aspects of Vian's life during the writing of this wonderful novel.

There will be another translation of this novel published by FSG in the late summer.  That version is based on Stanley Chapman's British translation of L'écume des jours called "Froth on the Daydream," but will be re-named "Mood Indigo" to tie-in with the film when it comes out in the States and the U.K.   Which is not to be confused with an older American translation with the same title.  Both versions were from the 1960's.  "Foam of the Daze" was translated in 2003.

Anyway I have high hopes for the film.  It seems to be an ideal fit to have Gondry to do this material.

L'écume des jours coming attractions

The first look of Michel Gondry's film version of Boris Vian's great novel L'éume des jours.  The film will be released in France this April.

Sets From Michel Gondry's L'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze) film

Boris Vian's L'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze) film

TamTam Books' edition of L'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze)

Here are some current images from the new Michel Gondry film 'L'écume des jours, based on the novel by Boris Vian (and of course, published by TamTam Books.  I have to say it looks incredible:

On a personal note no one from the film production has approached me regarding the filming of "L'écume des jours.  My translation of the book is "Foam of the Daze" but they're using an old American translated title of the novel, "Mood Indigo,"  that was published by Grove in the mid-1960's.  I have read all three English translations (of course) and its strange that they're using this title.  One, at least for the novel, the title or song "Mood Indigo" is never mentioned in the narrative.  Nevertheless it promises to be an interesting film.

Here's the cover of Mood Indigo

The Grove edition of L'écume des jours (tr Mood Indigo)

L'écume des jours (tr UK Froth on the Daydream)

More Cars for Michel Gondry's film version of Boris Vian's "L'écume des jours"

Cars Made Specially for the Boris Vian film L'ecume des jours

Michel Gondry to film Boris Vian's "Foam of the Daze" (L'écume des jours)

Michel Gondry

The French Edition of L'écume des jours

The original film poster for the 1968 version of L'écume des jours

A stlll from the 1968 film version of L'écume des jours

The TamTam Books version of L'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze)

Michel Gondry, the noted French filmmaker, is going to put Boris Vian's "Foam of the Daze" (L'´ecume des jours) on the big screen, or the little screen, or on your computer screen.  Nevertheless this seems like a no-brainer.  If and when the film gets made, expect to see it in 2013.