Saw Agnes Varda: From Here To There, a five-part mini-series documentary filmed by accomplished art-director Agnes Varda which I marathon-ed in one 3-hour-45-minute sitting. It followed Agnes as she traveled the world, receiving honors, visiting art galleries, and artist friends. She describes their work lovingly and explains how it inspired her own. The whole thing is mostly delightful (if a bit long when piled up together like this.)
Agnes is a wonderful old lady. She has a genuine appreciation and zest for life, describing one artist's all-black paintings as grand and dignified, emotional and evocative. She asks her Russian taxi-driver about local history just for the joy of hearing him speak Russian. Her hair is dyed dark red in a ring around her head, the crown left white. It makes her look like she's always standing in a bright sunbeam. Although her enjoyment at all the globetrotting and films and art is obvious (and infectious,) she keeps fairly straight-faced, preferring declarative narration and a simple hand-held digital camera to composed shots or swooning soundtracks. She's disciplined but indulgent, just a delight.
She tips her hand quite early on, explaining her own fascination with photographs vs films, the static vs the dynamic. Often the film freezes to capture what Agnes calls a 'critical moment.' I noticed a recurrent theme in many artist's work of industrialization vs (and in harmony with) humanity. The film is also a treasure-house of obscure films. She rattles off directors and artists as though they were her old friend (which may well be the case.) A fascinating look into the global art scene through Agnes's lens. A welcoming and busy little series.
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