Varda par Agnès

Such a beautiful and unique person who cannot help but inspire one to live with passion and joy. This film is so special not only because there's nothing quite like it but also because it contains such a breath of emotion that blows right out of the screen and into one's heart.

A look at the cinematic process of film making from the perspective of one of the worlds greatest female directors. This documentary is a gem, with Varda highlighting some of her best cinematic works, as well as a few failures. The viewer is taken on a journey through her life, from its humble beginnings to working with her husband Jaques Demy. We are shown vast projects involving art, still photos and cinematic sculptures that are sure to dazzle the viewer.

During her last year at age ninety, the prolific and renowned Belgian/French director, Agnès Varda, reflects and philosophizes in her final documentary. The main structure has Varda lecturing young film students in a master class while flashbacks reflect her film career, her history of feminism, and memories of her beloved late husband Jacques Demy, another renowned French director.

It is miraculous that this fine film was completed. To be so energetic at age 90 when it would be a matter of months before her passing, Varda proved to be extraordinary in so many ways. Despite her health, she remained articulate, intelligent, and mobile to the end - despite her admission that she felt pain everywhere.

This film includes moments from her past films plus past video/art installations at museums and outdoor spaces. They all reveal a vast sense of creativity, insight, talent, and ambition with a solid heart at the centre. The film also represents film history as it includes many film clips of Varda's past contemporaries most of whom have predeceased her. There are also enjoyable histories of the hippy movement of the 1960s followed by the feminist movement of the 1970s.

Near the end, there are many clips from Varda's previous film "Faces Places" (2017). At first, it seems these scenes are unnecessarily long. But those film clips lead to a sublime conclusion that is unforgettable, reminding us that Varda was at least as astute about life as she was about cinema and art. This moment is haunting while being a great finishing touch to a great film, a great career, a great life, and a great person. - dbamateurcritic

Agnes leaves us a master class about filmmaking in her own peculiar way of storytelling, but, also, by reviewing her previous works she shares her passion and love for art, photo, finding different ways to express herself. Always with people as her main theme. The process of filmmaking and storytelling analyzed with tenderness and detail. If you simply like or enjoy Agnes' films this film will let you understand better the mastermind behind them.

It's funny how my favorite movie of Agnes Varda ended up being the one about all her movies. It is such a love letter to cinema that it's impossible not to move any film lover. I like many of her movies, especially the documentaries. She had what I would call a very creative pragmatism about making her movies that made them easy to watch and at the same time challenging and interesting. Here it's no different as she looks back at her movies and at her life giving what feels like a very honest take of it all. And it's just incredible that this ended up being her last movie, an unforgettable epilogue to a very influential life.