Chronicle of a Summer

This film is more like an experiment of truth rather than a documentary it was meant to be. Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin ask the people of Paris the same question that end up resulting in work, love and their everyday routines. 

What I liked most about this is how self aware the film is. The people in it actually watch the footage of themselves and talk about whether it feels truthful or not  which makes you think about how much the camera changes the way people act.It is quite slow but in a good way and It feels honest and thoughtful  and it made me think a lot about what “real life” actually looks like when it’s filmed.

This film is more like an experiment of truth rather than a documentary it was meant to be. Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin ask the people of Paris the same question that end up resulting in work, love and their everyday routines. 

What I liked most about this is how self aware the film is. The people in it actually watch the footage of themselves and talk about whether it feels truthful or not  which makes you think about how much the camera changes the way people act.It is quite slow but in a good way and It feels honest and thoughtful  and it made me think a lot about what “real life” actually looks like when it’s filmed.

Firstly, one of the main aspects of Cinema Verite established by Jean and Edgar is that either the aesthetic or the truth of real life must be sacrificed. One can prioritize aesthetics yet dismiss the truth such as in the controversial Nanook of the North. One the other hand, one may put the truth front and center. I must say if this is Jean dismissing aesthetics I am delightfully intrigued by what film he produced when aesthetics were on the forefront of his creative vision. This film was very nice to look at but that is not what makes it great. Jean and Edgar completed what they set out to do in my opinion. To record human conversation and relation. At all points we got the opportunity to peer into the lives of French strangers in the 1960s, incredible. Also the surprise of Marceline being a holocaust survivor and detailing her experiences in the camp was such an incredible scene. I feel like I watched this at a great time in my life. As the days pass I feel more division and fear of the tyrannical regime of the United States, maybe hopefully one day we can achieve a future that is built on connection and community.

Firstly, one of the main aspects of Cinema Verite established by Jean and Edgar is that either the aesthetic or the truth of real life must be sacrificed. One can prioritize aesthetics yet dismiss the truth such as in the controversial Nanook of the North. One the other hand, one may put the truth front and center. I must say if this is Jean dismissing aesthetics I am delightfully intrigued by what film he produced when aesthetics were on the forefront of his creative vision. This film was very nice to look at but that is not what makes it great. Jean and Edgar completed what they set out to do in my opinion. To record human conversation and relation. At all points we got the opportunity to peer into the lives of French strangers in the 1960s, incredible. Also the surprise of Marceline being a holocaust survivor and detailing her experiences in the camp was such an incredible scene. I feel like I watched this at a great time in my life. As the days pass I feel more division and fear of the tyrannical regime of the United States, maybe hopefully one day we can achieve a future that is built on connection and community.

It’s just talking. Being the first to do something others will later use to elevate their film does not make it good. There is no plot and at times it barely feels like a film. Just ideas loosely pieced together.

It’s just talking. Being the first to do something others will later use to elevate their film does not make it good. There is no plot and at times it barely feels like a film. Just ideas loosely pieced together.

The perfect movie. Idc.

The perfect movie. Idc.

"Are you happy?" is a question that is philosophically interesting to me, and one that was insightful to see different answers to the same question. Some deep, some not so deep. It made me think of my own answer to that question, and I respect it for that. There were moments of the film that I felt didn't align with that question or the "Chronicle of a Summer" in Paris, 1960. Also the French are so brutal in their depictions of life. René Descartes mention!

"Are you happy?" is a question that is philosophically interesting to me, and one that was insightful to see different answers to the same question. Some deep, some not so deep. It made me think of my own answer to that question, and I respect it for that. There were moments of the film that I felt didn't align with that question or the "Chronicle of a Summer" in Paris, 1960. Also the French are so brutal in their depictions of life. René Descartes mention!