The Cinema of Agnès Varda: Resistance and Eclecticism (Directors' Cuts)

Agnès Varda, a pioneer of the French New Wave, has been making radical films for over half a century. Many of these are considered by scholars, filmmakers, and audiences alike, as audacious, seminal, and unforgettable. This volume considers her production as a whole, revisiting overlooked films like __Mur, Murs/Documenteur__ (1980--81), and connecting her cinema to recent installation work. This study demonstrates how Varda has resisted norms of representation and diktats of production. It also shows how she has elaborated a personal repertoire of images, characters, and settings, which all provide insight on their cultural and political contexts. The book thus offers new readings of this director's multifaceted rêveries, arguing that her work should be seen as an aesthetically influential and ethically-driven production where cinema is both a political and collaborative practice, and a synesthetic art form. Agnès Varda, A Pioneer Of The French New Wave, Has Been Making Radical Films For Over Half A Century. Many Of These Are Considered By Scholars, Filmmakers, And Audiences Alike, As Audacious, Seminal, And Unforgettable. This Volume Considers Her Production As A Whole, Revisiting Overlooked Films Like Mur, Murs/documenteur (1980-81), And Connecting Her Cinema To Recent Installation Work. This Study Demonstrates How Varda Has Resisted Norms Of Representation And Diktats Of Production. It Also Shows How She Has Elaborated A Personal Repertoire Of Images, Characters, And Settings, Which All Provide Insight On Their Cultural And Political Contexts. The Book Thus Offers New Readings Of This Director's Multifaceted Rêveries, Arguing That Her Work Should Be Seen As An Aesthetically Influential And Ethically-driven Production Where Cinema Is Both A Political And Collaborative Practice, And A Synesthetic Art Form. Introduction: Beginnings -- Agnès Varda: A Woman Within History -- Aesthetics And Technique -- Varda's Ethics Of Filming -- Poetics Of Space -- Cinécriture And Originality. Delphine Bénézet. Includes Filmography, Bibliographical References And Index. "Agne+ђs Varda, a pioneer of the French New Wave, has been making radical films for over half a century. Many of these are considered by scholars, filmmakers, and audiences alike, as audacious, seminal, and unforgettable. This volume considers her production as a whole, revisiting overlooked films like Mur, Murs/Documenteur (1980-81), and connecting her cinema to recent installation work. This study demonstrates how Varda has resisted norms of representation and diktats of production. It also shows how she has elaborated a personal repertoire of images, characters, and settings, which all provide insight on their cultural and political contexts. The book thus offers new readings of this director's multifaceted re+єveries, arguing that her work should be seen as an aesthetically influential and ethically-driven production where cinema is both a political and collaborative practice, and a synesthetic art form." Agnès Varda, a pioneer of the French New Wave, has been making radical films for over half a century. Many of these are considered by scholars, filmmakers, and audiences alike, as audacious, seminal, and unforgettable. This volume considers her production as a whole, revisiting overlooked films like Mur Murs, Documenteur (1980--81), and connecting her cinema to recent installation work. This study demonstrates how Varda has resisted norms of representation and diktats of production. It also shows how she has elaborated a personal repertoire of images, characters, and settings, which all provide insight on their cultural and political contexts. The book thus offers new readings of this director's multifaceted rêveries, arguing that her work should be seen as an aesthetically influential and ethically-driven production where cinema is both a political and collaborative practice, and a synesthetic art form. Table of Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 Introduction: Beginnings 10 1. Agnes Varda: A Woman Within History 18 2. Aesthetics and Technique 50 3. Varda’s Ethics of Filming 80 4. Poetics of Space 98 5. Cinecriture and Originality 120 Conclusion 148 Filmography 154 Bibliography 159 Index 168