A document collected by Gitta Mallasz in Hungary between June 23, 1943 and November 24, 1944 for a disturbing meeting between esotericism, philosophy and poetry in a country ravaged by war and anti -Semitism.
In 1943, against a background of Hungary ravaged by war and anti -Semitism, four artists decided to leave Budapest to settle in the countryside and devote themselves to their artistic practice. There is Hanna Dallos and her husband, Joseph Kreutzer, Lili Strausz, and Gitta Mallasz. Only Gitta is not Jewish, and it is the only one of this quartet that will survive, and to whom the mission will be the mission of transmitting the strange supernatural adventure that they then lived. “I am not the author of the dialogues”, she warns in highlight. “I am the scribe of dialogues.” But then, who speaks? Because Friday, June 23, 1943, while she walks with Hanna, someone started to speak using Hanna as a vector of his word.
Suddenly, the latter warns it: “Be careful! It’s no longer me who speaks.” The voice, which is expressed through that of the young woman, will come back to speak to them every Friday until November 24, 1944. She first presented herself as their “inner master”, before revealing herself: he is an angel who speaks to them and transmits them a divine and philosophical teaching.
There will be, in all, 88 interviews. The angel is first annoyed by their stupidity (very funny, this hyper-sevant angel who yells them), then will educate them, raise them, in order to apprehend life via a spiritual prism and no longer material, conceited or centered on oneself. These funny interviews will lead them to organize themselves in order to save Jewish women and children by opening a sewing factory (war).
“Burn! / Fill in light!”
For almost thirty years, Juliette Binoche has been referring to this book as an essential text in her life, a real spiritual guide where to draw from these moments of existence where one doubts, of self and the sense of life. We will also note the importance of the first name Hana/Anna in her existence, since her character in The English patient, Who is called Hana, to her own daughter whom she chose to appoint Hana. The one therefore which is chosen by the angel.
First released in France in 1976, then translated into 21 languages, Dialogs with the Angel is an enigmatic book, very esoteric, as captivating as destabilizing, poetic too. He sometimes leaves us incredulous, then fascinates. Dialogues with the angel, It is a spiritual but also philosophical teaching, in an often incantatory language, which enjoins Hanna, Gitta and Lili to focus on joy and life. The main thing is the gift. The flame.
“Burn! / Fill in light! / Get up! Wake up! Your light is necessary.” In the end, the latest the Angel’s Words: “Eternal life is already yours!” He prepared them to live as much as to die. Just after, the majority of women, children and the three friends of Gitta will be arrested. No e will come back alive.
Dialogues with the angel, A document collected by Gitta Mallasz (Aubier, 1994), translated from the Hungarian by Gitta Mallasz. New version reviewed by Dominique Raoul-Duval, 400 p., 18.80€.
