The American Cinematheque Presents...
AGNÈS VARDA: FROM HERE TO THERE
3-Night Film Series! Filmmaker Agnès Varda & Actor Mathieu Demy In Person!
This Weekend!
Fri., April 10 - Sun., April 12
Aero Theatre · 1328 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
A gifted and outspoken feminist and one of the most acclaimed directors anywhere in the world, Agnès Varda could be considered the prototype of today’s independent filmmaker: She directed her first feature in 1954 with no formal training in filmmaking. Along with Alain Resnais and Chris Marker, she made up the so-called "Left Bank Group" of the early 1960s, distinct from other French New Wave directors for their interest in both documentary and fiction and their passion for both political and social filmmaking. Her marriage to Jacques Demy (1931-1990) made her one half of the most beloved filmmaking couple of their day.
In 1962, Varda directed the legendary CLÉO FROM 5 TO 7, a New Wave classic about two hours in the life of a pop singer. The film’s sense of profound realism crossed with lyrical visual poetry pointed the way toward much of Varda’s later work, which would alternate between acclaimed documentaries and fiction features. Shining examples of these include her Jane Birkin imaginary biopic JANE B. FOR AGNÈS V. and offbeat romance KUNG-FU MASTER!, in which famed performer Birkin (a longtime friend of Varda) plays a middle-aged mother (to real-life daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg) in love with a teenager (Varda's son Mathieu Demy). Both JANE B. FOR AGNÈS V. and KUNG-FU MASTER have been recently restored and will be re-released later this year.
Though the impish Varda bears little resemblance to the haunted title character of VAGABOND, the two do share one characteristic - an insatiable wanderlust. The journeys of Agnès Varda - captured so beautifully in the recent five-part documentary series "From Here To There" - have brought the director around the world, exploring film and other arts in many different cultures.
See you at the movies!
XXX
Raymond Lo
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