07-30-2020, 04:49 PM
Two semi-related Agnes Varda films about murals today:
Mur Murs (1981)
Agnes Varda documents the large colourful street murals of Los Angeles, the artists that paint them and the culture that informs and surrounds the works. It's a joyful snapshot of the city at the start of the 80s, a lost world, presumably many of these spectacular works of public art have now vanished to redevelopment, neglect and decay and hopefully been replaced by new ones. Varda has such an inquisitive eye, alive to random beauty, eccentric behaviours and people's unique stories and experiences. The title is a pun derived from the French "Wall Walls".
Faces Places / Visages Villages (2017)
A film following director Agnes Varda and street-artist/photographer JR on a journey around France, talking to people, creating large public pieces of art for them and then seeing their reactions to it. It's exactly the kind of modern art I love, art that makes people's faces light up with delight and wonder. Varda blurs the line between documentary and fiction in her relationship with JR and explores themes around her own aging. I can't imagine anybody young or old not being totally captivated by this movie, it's so accessible. If this was still 2017, I'd probably be calling it "film of the year". Do yourself a favour and watch 'Faces Places'.
Mur Murs (1981)
Agnes Varda documents the large colourful street murals of Los Angeles, the artists that paint them and the culture that informs and surrounds the works. It's a joyful snapshot of the city at the start of the 80s, a lost world, presumably many of these spectacular works of public art have now vanished to redevelopment, neglect and decay and hopefully been replaced by new ones. Varda has such an inquisitive eye, alive to random beauty, eccentric behaviours and people's unique stories and experiences. The title is a pun derived from the French "Wall Walls".
Faces Places / Visages Villages (2017)
A film following director Agnes Varda and street-artist/photographer JR on a journey around France, talking to people, creating large public pieces of art for them and then seeing their reactions to it. It's exactly the kind of modern art I love, art that makes people's faces light up with delight and wonder. Varda blurs the line between documentary and fiction in her relationship with JR and explores themes around her own aging. I can't imagine anybody young or old not being totally captivated by this movie, it's so accessible. If this was still 2017, I'd probably be calling it "film of the year". Do yourself a favour and watch 'Faces Places'.