L'Année dernière à Bregna

I found myself watching Æon Flux (as one would on a friday morning). Although far from any cinematic masterpiece in terms of story, it is nevertheless a jewel of (architectural) cinematography.. Going through various noteworthy buildings (ranging from Park Sanssouci to Zumthor) it most definitely gives architecture a show for its money. (Or is it the other way around?) Set in the fictional city of Bregna, we follow the protagonist while she tries to save the world (by ruining it, in a way).

Something apart from the buildings did strike me, though. The cinematography itself. I saw many similarities with L'Année dernière à Marienbad. Which, to be completely honest, pays a big tribute to architecture as well, however I found the number of similar scenes disturbing. This is not to say they were in any way copied, but is this just simply all the possible compositions of characters & buildings that one can make on film?

To illustrate my point:

To start off, let's start with a standard run-of-the-mill couple shot. Being all proud, and ignore the puppet-like silhouettes in the background

A couple lovingly juxtaposed in a comfortable corner, in relation to the building

Puppets sprinkled along the scene, interplaying with the (architectural) background

The glory shot (slightly off-centre of course, let's not be crude)

Legendary. The firing squad. Aeon surprisingly less puppet-y (but do note the glipse of Architecture in the background!)

The detailed glory-shot (just in case you missed it, this film is about buildings)

Centered couple walking down a corridor (note how the genders are positioned the same)

Character posing in the foreground, with a glorious (constructed) background

I was doubly surprised to find this in both films, but surprised further still when I realized I found it in both films

The chairs & table as turning point of the story, encased in a heavy layering of House

Of course, this list wouldn't be complete with the surrealist scene from Marienbad. Unfortunately there isn't any adequate imagery in Aeon, but this is the closest I could find

And, of course. The couple and the House. Centered. 

the imagery is probably © Alain Resnais for Marienbad and © Paramount Pictures for Aeon