Celebrating the vision of Agnes Varda
The On Set With French Cinema series concludes Wednesday at the American Cinematheque with the screening of Agnes Varda’s “Jacquot de Nantes” (1991), plus her latest short film, “Le Lion Volatil,” a playful Surrealist postcard of her own Paris neighborhood dominated by an enormous bronze lion, around which magical events happen. Julie Depardieu and Varda herself appear in the film. A question-and-answer session with Varda follows.
Earlier in the day, Varda will discuss “The Gleaners and I” (2000) and “Uncle Yanco” (1968), after they screen at USC. She will also receive the first Eisenstein Award, from the university’s School of Cinema-Television, for “visionary and distinguished contributions to the cinematic art.”
After nearly half a century as a filmmaker, Varda is often called “the grandmother of the New Wave,” and many of her films -- starting with her early “Cleo From 5 to 7” -- have become classics.
“Jacquot de Nantes” is her memorable dramatization of the formative years of her late husband, director Jacques Demy.
“The Gleaners and I” is a beautiful, contemplative and remarkably resonant documentary in which Varda traveled over the French countryside to see if gleaning -- the ancient custom of allowing the poor to comb the fields for leftover grains, fruits and vegetables after a harvest -- still persisted. Making this film also allowed Varda to confront her own journey into old age along with expressing her passion for art and to comment on waste in a prosperous consumer society.
Meanwhile, “Uncle Yanco” is a jaunty, affectionate 22-minute sketch of painter Jean Varda, a late relative who lived on a Sausalito houseboat.
On Tuesday, Varda hosts a screening of two of her rarely seen films, “Murs, Murs” and “Documenteur,” at CalArts.
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On Set With French Cinema
What: “Jacquot de Nantes” and “Le Lion Volatil”
Where: American Cinematheque, Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Contact: (323) 466-FILM
Also
What: “The Gleaners and I” and “Uncle Yanco”
Where: Lucas 208 Theater, George Lucas Building, USC
When: Wednesday, 2 p.m.
Contact: (323) 655-8585
Also
What: “Murs, Murs” and “Documenteur”
Where: Bijou Theater, CalArts, Valencia
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Contact: www.calarts.edu
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