Tag: claire dénis

Features

Lost in the Mail: Dan’s 2022 Sight And Sound Ballot

Coming up with a Sight and Sound ballot, even one that didn’t get submitted to the actual magazine, presents unique challenges. The only criteria put forth by the venerable magazine is to vote for the greatest films of all time, leaving voters free to interpret that. It opens things up to a wide set of criteria to determine “the greatest films ever made”. Do you try to vote objectively and select films for their perceived importance and influence? Do you select based on personal importance? Do you go based on personal aesthetic? Or do you just think of what films other people will pick and hope yours line up?

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Features, Reviews

The Films of Claire Denis: Trouble Every Day (2001)

Imagine you are a filmmaker coming off the most well regarded film of your career. It’s the film that maybe you don’t realize now but will become what you’re best known. Regardless, the question that will be asked of you is “What’s next?” There’s two paths you can take. Do what’s expected of you, or continue to follow your muse? This was the position Claire … Continue reading The Films of Claire Denis: Trouble Every Day (2001)

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Features, Reviews

The Films of Claire Denis: Beau Travail (1999)

Tanks lie unattended near the foot of a mountain or a hill, with possibly empty oil drums next to them. Nameless people sit crowded in a train going through a desert. Women dance in a club hoping to attract the attention of French Foreign Legion soldiers. Those same soldiers, now caked in sand and dust, perform countless exercises surrounded by rocky terrain and sand. Occasionally … Continue reading The Films of Claire Denis: Beau Travail (1999)

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Features, Reviews

The Films of Claire Denis: Stars At Noon (2002)

Towards the end of Claire Denis’s Stars At Noon, Benny Safdie’s CIA agent describes Central America as a “gambler’s paradise”. He says this with a smile and unconcerned attitude. Margaret Qualley’s journalist Trish looks at him with scorn. These two individuals know enough about this region that if it is a “gambler’s paradise”, then the house is rigged. History shows outside interests always control events … Continue reading The Films of Claire Denis: Stars At Noon (2002)

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Features, Reviews

The Films of Claire Denis: Chocolat (1988)

The camera gives us, the audience,  a view of  the Atlantic Ocean. This scene is not particularly peaceful. The waters here don’t look beautiful. The ocean roils into muddy bubbles. An African-American father and son though play unconcerned in these not particularly calm waters. The camera then turns to a white woman named France, watching unconcerned as this happens. We don’t know it yet but … Continue reading The Films of Claire Denis: Chocolat (1988)

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Features

The Films of Claire Denis: An Introduction

One of the great joys of loving art is discovering an artist for your self. One that changes your perspective or fits into your already established aesthetic. It doesn’t matter if they’re new or established. The joy is in discovering those films for yourself. Great work remains great work no matter when you find it.  As a film fan though, there’s only so many films … Continue reading The Films of Claire Denis: An Introduction

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