This is an autobiographical essay by the legendary French filmmaker Agnes Varda made to commemorate her 80th birthday in which she traces her filmmaking career and associations in a freewheeling manner, starting from the genesis of the French New Wave. The most poignant segment in the film is her remembrance of her husband Jacques Demy – another iconic French director – and his death due to AIDS. She recounts the manner in which her family dealt with the impending death without making any efforts to find out about the cause, thus respecting his privacy. This is European sensibility at its most compassionate – and refined.
One need not be versed with the oeuvre of Agnes Varda in order to appreciate the beauty of the film. It’s a love letter to cinema and life. Watch it on MUBI.
Check out the trailer here:
Ranjan Das is a Mumbai based filmmaker & faculty.