It’s a companion piece to Cleo from 5 to 7, probably still Varda’s greatest work. Here though, unlike with Cleo, her subject is truly unexceptional- not a beautiful pop-star (she’s a hobo here). Unlike Cleo lost in a sea of people she is on her own. It’s still a meditation on death (having this told in flashback knowing of her demise changes the entire narrative—such mystery, tragedy and immediacy like Cleo which basically starts with a death sentence given out by the Tarot-card reader)
Structure is a splintered flashback from other people’s interviews like Citizen Kane– very well done- a brilliant choice- gives immediacy to whole thing
Varda’s most neo-realistic film—harsh rural setting like Antonioni’s Il Grido– frankly her character is the same too a series of bristly interactions for a person that cannot cope—matching the landscape- grey, cold and rough – she scowls and barks the entire film
There are a few nice dolly shots of the location, then it goes to her interactions (mostly pretty contemptuous) and then to the flashback interviews in structure
There’s some male gaze like Cleo
I think it clearly influenced the work of the Dardenne’s and von Trier though his female protagonists are more clearly the victim set amongst vipers
Again as far as character she is not someone with hidden talent or special- a true nobody or everywoman– and I think that was a goal of Varda
I guess after her trio of other films- La Pointe Courte, Cleo and Le Bonheur I was disappointed in the photography. That’s a high-bar but it’s not on that level and that’s why this isn’t in the MP or MS category. I like the dedication to the neo-realism and the creative narrative structure
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