Recently watched two interesting documentaries about filmmaking movements: Two in a Wave, about the French New Wave of the ‘60s, and Blank City, about the “No Wave” indie movement in New York in the late ‘70s.
Two in a Wave explores the decades-long friendship and artistic relationship between legendary filmmakers Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut. It was interesting to learn that they started out as the best of friends, helping each other break into the movie industry and praising each other’s work. But they ended up bitter enemies over political differences in the turbulent ‘60s and ‘70s.
Two in a Wave explores the decades-long friendship and artistic relationship between legendary filmmakers Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut. It was interesting to learn that they started out as the best of friends, helping each other break into the movie industry and praising each other’s work. But they ended up bitter enemies over political differences in the turbulent ‘60s and ‘70s.
Although the Two in a Wave documentary was engaging, I must say it was also a bit hard to follow because it’s in French with English subtitles. Unless you’re glued to the screen the whole time, you have to occasionally rewind to pick up details you may have missed here and there.
Equally engaging was Blank City. Just by chance, I picked up these two documentaries in the same swoop during a trip to the library. Interestingly enough, “Blank City” was made by a French filmmaker.
In the bonus features of the DVD, Blank City director Celine Dahnier said she heard plenty about the New Wave cinema movement in her home base of Paris, but had trouble finding information about New York’s “No Wave.” So she set out to interview the cutting-edge filmmakers who were instrumental in the “No Wave.”
Filmmakers interviewed in Blank City include Jim Jarmusch (Coffee and Cigarettes) and Susan Seidelman, who went on to make Desperately Seeking Susan with Madonna. John Waters (Cry Baby) is also featured. Although he lived in Baltimore, he periodically journeyed to New York to sell his low-budget films, became friends with many of the “No Wave” directors and crashed on people’s floors when he was in the city.
Blank City gives a fascinating look into this bygone era of New York. The city was on the verge of bankruptcy, rent was low and the filmmakers could live cheaply while pursuing their art.
The hip-hop and punk movements were just taking off and future celebrities like Debbie Harry of Blondie, Fab Five Freddy (later host of Yo! MTV Raps) and Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) acted in some of the “No Wave” films.
If you're a movie buff, both these docs are worth checking out.
No comments:
Post a Comment