Jacquot (1991)

Synopsis: Drawn from the childhood reminiscences of her husband, director Jacques Demy (THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT), and shot in the actual locations of his youth, Agnes Varda... Drawn from the childhood reminiscences of her husband, director Jacques Demy (THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT), and shot in the actual locations of his youth, Agnes Varda made this loving tribute, in the final months of Demy's life. Drenched in the atmosphere of provincial Nantes, this deeply nostalgic film traces Demy's career and his obsession with cinema. Even as a child, "Jacquot" patiently spent hours drawing characters on celluloid or making frame-by-frame recordings of the puppets he'd create. His father refused to accept Jacquot's interest in art and movies, however, demanding that the boy learn a steady trade. But Demy persisted, acquiring a small, hand-cranked camera and eventually becoming the filmmaker he'd always wanted to be. As the fictional reconstruction progresses, the films that they would later inspire are spliced in with evocative and lush cinematography and close-up caressing camera shots of Demy just before his death. While the film briskly evokes the charm and vivacity of Jacquot's childhood between the wars, it is tinged with the melancholy of mourning. The connections between art and life are expertly exposed as Demy's cinematic oeuvre is traced back to childhood affinities and experiences. [More]

Starring: Philippe Maron, Edouard Joubeaud, Laurent Monnier, Brigitte De Villepoix

Starring: Philippe Maron, Edouard Joubeaud, Laurent Monnier, Brigitte De Villepoix, Daniel Dublet

Director: Agnes Varda

Director: Agnes Varda

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