“Car Cemetery” (1983) – surreal, avant-garde play by Fernando Arrabal [1:14:35]

“Car Cemetery” (1983) – surreal, avant-garde play by Fernando Arrabal [1:14:35]

Original was uploaded on 2024-06-01

“Le Cimetière des voitures” (Car Cemetery) is a surreal and avant-garde play written by the Spanish playwright Fernando Arrabal in 1958, though it was published and produced in 1983. The play is a significant work in the Theatre of the Absurd, a genre that explores the human condition in a universe devoid of meaning or purpose.

**Plot Summary:**
The play is set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic junkyard filled with abandoned cars. This desolate environment serves as a metaphor for the ruin and decay of modern civilization. The characters are societal outcasts, living on the fringes and struggling with existential despair. The central figure is Emanou, a Christ-like character, who seeks to bring meaning and salvation to the forsaken world of the car cemetery.

The narrative is fragmented and non-linear, emphasizing the absurdity and chaos of the human condition. The characters engage in bizarre and often grotesque actions, reflecting their inner turmoil and the breakdown of traditional social and moral structures. The play’s dialogue is a blend of dark humor, philosophical musings, and poetic imagery, contributing to its surreal and disorienting atmosphere.

**Themes:**
1. **Existentialism:** The play explores themes of existence, identity, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. The characters’ actions and interactions often reflect their struggle to find purpose in a seemingly indifferent universe.

2. **Religion and Sacrifice:** Emanou’s Christ-like figure introduces themes of martyrdom and redemption. His journey and ultimate fate raise questions about the possibility of salvation in a world marked by corruption and decay.

3. **Decay and Ruin:** The car cemetery itself is a powerful symbol of societal and moral decay. The setting underscores the play’s exploration of destruction and the remnants of a once-functional society.

4. **Alienation:** The characters are depicted as isolated and disconnected from one another and from the larger world. This alienation is both physical, in their marginalized existence in the junkyard, and emotional, in their inability to find meaningful connections.

**Stylistic Elements:**
– **Surrealism:** The play employs surreal and dream-like sequences, creating a disorienting and often nightmarish atmosphere. This stylistic choice reflects the absurdity of the human condition and the fragmented nature of reality.
– **Non-linear Structure:** The fragmented narrative disrupts traditional storytelling, emphasizing the chaotic and unpredictable nature of existence.
– **Symbolism:** The play is rich with symbolic imagery, from the abandoned cars representing societal decay to Emanou’s Christ-like figure embodying themes of sacrifice and redemption.

“Le Cimetière des voitures” is a challenging and thought-provoking work that pushes the boundaries of traditional theater. Its exploration of existential themes, combined with its surreal and avant-garde style, makes it a seminal piece in the Theatre of the Absurd.
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