Taking a stroll on LES PLAGES D’AGNÈS (2008)

Posted by Stephen Jannise

The Beaches of Agnes is more entertaining and inventive than any autobiographical film has a right to be, thanks of course to its director and subject, Agnes Varda. I have only seen one of Varda’s previous films, Cleo from 5 to 7, a picture so thoughtful, alluring, and downright gorgeous that the merits of this film alone are enough to explain why Varda was considered a key player in the French New Wave movement (though, as Daniel notes in his review, she may fit in more neatly with the Left Bank artists).

While I don’t have quite the same affinity for Cleo as I do for other works like The 400 Blows or Breathless, I do think Varda added a unique and important voice to the cinema in those days, and I think that is precisely what this new film is giving us today. In this decade, we have been besieged with biopics, to the point where it can be difficult to drag oneself to see one of the few good ones. Though I can’t imagine anyone planning a Varda biopic in the near future, Varda has beaten others to the punch and made one herself, just in case.

This is a new film by Agnes Varda, that just happens to be ABOUT Agnes Varda

The film flows nicely from new scenes of Varda connecting with her memories through humorous reenactments of her past to actual footage of the past, her films, her time spent on the set and with her friends and lover Jacques Demy, and her more private moments with her family. I think the bits about her family may be the most revealing for Varda enthusiasts, but when it comes to the other parts, I found myself wondering while watching the film whether or not it would be more beneficial to have seen a majority of Varda’s films before seeing this documentary. In a sense, I imagine a familiarity with Varda the artist might make the experience of seeing the segments dealing with her artistic endeavors seem a bit repetitious. Can we learn about an artist through the art itself? If so, do we even need an autobiography? It seems that she understands this concern, because by making a documentary so unlike most of the dry, talking-heads-filled nonfiction films we normally see in the cinema or on TV, she has created a film that simply blends in with the rest of her oeuvre, simply another piece in the autobiographical puzzle comprised of all her films, fiction or otherwise.

Varda ensures that the proceedings are fresh and lively, thanks to her vivacious personality and truly intriguing personal history. She has spent much of her life in the company of beautiful and talented people, whether they be actors, actresses, or directors, and yet has managed to stand out amongst them with her boundlessly optimistic sense of humor and aesthetic intellect. This film is our opportunity to have Agnes tell us her story her way, and you shouldn’t miss it.