matouenpeluche

Jules et Jim

Here's my second interpretation of a French New Wave film poster: Jules et Jim (here was my first). Of all the Nouvelle Vague directors, I'd have to say that Truffaut is without a shadow of a doubt my very favourite. Although, Jules et Jim isn't my favourite Truffaut film, it does have the gorgeous Jeanne Moreau in it with her fabulous knitted jumper. If you are unfamiliar with Truffaut's Jules et Jim, here's a very nice piece about it and the Nouvelle Vague genre in general.  

Meanwhile, here are some classic stills from Jules et Jim and one of Truffaut himself.

Henri Serre, Oskar Werner and Jeanne Moreau from here and here.

Truffaut.

Weekend drawing festival...

Paula

So, the weekend has come and gone *sigh* but so has Monday *phew*!

I watched a heap of movies, well two actually at the weekend. I saw "The Informant!" which is a Soderbergh movie with  Matt Damon. I won't say what it's about because things about the story and lead character are revealed right up to the end credits. It was watchable enough - I admire Soderbergh's sheer volume of work and the creative way he goes about film making. I feel he is an "auteur" in the true sense that Truffaut spoke about all those years ago in the '50s.However, having said that, I never feel "wow" after his films. Maybe instead of "WOW" I feel quiet admiration.

The other film I saw was "The Invention of Lying" with Ricky Gervais. I really like Ricky Gervais - his stand up shows sometimes make me laugh until I weep. He seems to have a very endearing personality to my mind. While this film was based on an interesting concept, nobody in his world ever lies, it kind of lost it's way for me about half way through and I'm afraid my boyfriend and I switched it off. Actually, I think the real reason I ejected it was Jennifer Garner's face - I found her pumped lips, botox and cheek implants very off putting and distracting!

I also managed to draw three pictures! That's Paula up top in the natty pink suit and monocle, Chloe being super art deco and Geraldine being...well Geraldine.

Art Deco Chloe

Geraldine the Guinea Fowl

You wouldn't think it to look at Geraldine - but she is pretty significant in the drawing department for me. Firstly, I've been hanging out to draw a black bird with white spots forever. Really and truly. Secondly, even though those white spots look pretty rough and ready, they were an utter labour of love and deep therapy! At the end of Saturday I was feeling a little shall we say "crabby" for one reason or another and doing the white spots on Geraldine really improved my mood no end! I guess that's what they might call "Art Therapy"? ...and thank you Geraldine.

Hope everyone has a super week!

Viva Truffaut!

Ah! Bliss! Last night, after having dinner with my boyfriend I strolled up the road to the local music and DVD shop and chanced upon my idea of heaven: the complete Adventures of Antoine Doinel! Lucky me! I knew it was a find when I showed my boyfriend and he just said "Do you want some money for it?" That's his short hand for "Buy it immediately!"

Anyway, back to Antoine. For those of you who don't know, Antoine Doinel is the lead character in four movies made over a 20 year period by Monsieur La Nouvelle Vague himself, Francois Truffaut. The first film in the series, Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959) or The 400 Blows is an utter gem of a movie that is still heartbreakingly charming and insightful 50 years after it was made. It is also drop dead gorgeous to look at. That's Truffaut mid-shoot for The 400 Blows above.

The 400 Blows is a semi-autobiographical story about a feisty young boy, Doinel, whose unstable and indifferent parents lead him to rebellion in the form of skipping school and spending his days in the cinema amongst other things. He eventually ends up in a juvenile home as a result.

The three other Antoine Doinel movies: Stolen Kisses (1968), Bed and Board (1970), Love on the Run (1979) and the short film Antoine and Colette (1962) continue to follow the life of Antoine and all star the same actor Jean-Pierre Leaud. It's interesting to watch him grow older actually! It's a bit like a fictional Seven Up!

There is a lovely short piece written by Martin Scorsese for Time magazine here that I recommend you read as it gives a terrific overview of why Truffaut is one of the most important film makers of the 20th Century. Here is a very good biography of Truffaut and his life.

Finally, I leave you with a quote from the man himself which sums up his philosophy about film making:

I demand that a film express either the joy of making cinema or the agony of making cinema. I am not at all interested in anything in between.

Have a lovely weekend one and all!