French Directors - Agnes Varda

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French Directors - Agnes Varda

4 by Agnes Varda La Pointe Courte / Cleo from 5 to 7 / Le Bonheur / Vagabond Agnes Varda Whether you label her early work Left Bank or French New Wave, Varda's role in the evolution of narrative film as an art form is certain. The collection includes four by Anges Varda: Her directorial debut, La Pointe-Courte (1955, 80 mins.), an independent production that prefigured the New Wave by three years. As edited by Alain Resnais, the film transitions between scenes of everyday life in a small fishing village and the intense breakup and reconciliation of a young married couple; Varda's second feature, Cleo from 5 to 7 (1961), is 90 minutes--exactly--in the life of a singer (Corinne Marchand) as she waits for the results of a cancer test, then meets a young soldier about to leave for the Algerian war; Daring to explore the nature of relationships from a woman's point of view, Le Bonheur (1965, 87 mins.) is an elegant and controversial film about a happily married carpenter (Jean-Claude Drouot) who wants his wife to accept that he can love his mistress all the same; Lastly, Vagabond (1985, 105 mins.) is the director's extraordinarily bleak account of a young woman's death and life. In the opening scene, Mona's (Sandrine Bonnaire) body is discovered frozen. Varda expertly retraces her life while dissecting French society. The DVD is a 4 disc Criterion Collection Edition, with newly restored digital transfers, supervised and approved by Varda. Includes three short films by Varda, a new video interview with Varda on La Pointe Courte and an archival episode from Cineastes de notre temps, a 2005 doc on the making of Cleo from 5 to 7, a short film with Varda retracing Cleo's steps and a 1993 film with Varda speaking with Madonna about Cleo, interviews with three actors from Le Bonheur, a 2006 discussion with scholars about the film and interviews with Varda, a 2003 doc on the making of Vagabond, theatrical trailers, new and improved English subtitles, and a booklet with new essays by Chris Darke, Adrian Martin, Amy Taubin and Ginette Vincendeau, as well as a foreword to each film by Varda herself. In French with English subtitles. France, 1955-1985, 362 mins. DVD | $129.95

The Gleaners and I Agnes Varda Agnes Varda's engaging, personal documentary looks at all levels of gleaning, or scavenging, in various parts of France. Varda visits with those who pick from already harvested fields in order to survive, as well as those who do it simply as a pastime or because they are offended by the waste. She also looks at those who use discarded materials in their artwork, urban gleaners who find nutritious foods in garbage cans, and others. As the director salutes this individualistic and idealistic activity, she contemplates how her own art form is really an act of gleaning images and putting found objects to use. Named Best Documentary by the National Society of Film Critics, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the Chicago International Film Festival. Shot on digital video. In French with English subtitles. France, 2000, 82 min. DVD | $44.95

The World of Jacques Demy Agnes Varda Filmmaker Agnes Varda's third tribute to her late husband, Jacques Demy, looks at the director's vision and his techniques. Includes clips from Demy's films, interviews with actresses Catherine Deneuve and Anouk Aimee, actor Michel Piccoli, composer Michel Legrand, Demy's children and fans. Also includes rare home video footage of the director with Francois Truffaut and Jim Morrison. In French with English subtitles. France, 1995, 90 mins. DVD | $37.95