Jean Cocteau: Autoportrait d'un inconnu

Jean Cocteau reminisces about the people he has known throughout his long life (he died at 74) in this fascinating documentary by Edgardo Cozarinsky. Starting with still photographs of Satie, Diaghilev, Nijinsky and Stravinsky just before the outbreak of World War one, Cocteau evokes the heady atmosphere of experimentation that was prevalent in Europe. In the Twenties, there is the affair with Radiguet, the only lover Cocteau had who was his equal, and who died very young. Stills show a very determined, even pugnacious, teenager.

There are scenes from the films, especially the famous ending of Les Parents terribles, with the jerky dolly shot, which had to be improvised. It's a wonderful trip down memory lane with an artist who knew everybody.

If you're looking for this, its on the Criterion DVD of 'Blood of A Poet' as a special feature.

With this film, Cocteau helps the viewer not only get into his head but all the artistic pioneers who were his peers in the first decades of the 20th century. Cocteau, especially in this, seems to have quite a lot of respect for the viewer in some way--he makes you care about his life, not only because he was always surrounded by inspired art, but also because he always seems to be imparting something more than what he's saying.

The camera work is interesting as well, as one might expect with a Cocteau related film.