Marker Variations: A Cinema and Poetry Cycle with Chris Marker

The work of the French filmmaker Chris Marker (1921-2012) is recognized for its many facets: intense technical and stylistic experimentation around the audiovisual image that goes beyond any mold or tradition. Philosophical reflection and essay, documentary record and archival material, lyricism and politics, love for classic cinema and literature, constitute different elements that come together in a very personal cinematographic work. However, all these facets of Marker are just variations of the same concern: recording, with extreme sensitivity and poetic imagination, the vicissitudes of our world.

40 years after the premiere of Without sunone of his fundamental works, we carry out a new edition of the Cinema and Poetry Cycle with the presence of the teacher, researcher and filmmaker Nicolas Zukerfeldspecialized in film history, to talk to the public about Marker’s work.

With the support of French Institute

SATURDAY JUNE 3 / 6 PM

Without sun

(France, 1983, 100′)

Of Chris Marker

A woman reads the letters of a freelance videographer who, traveling the world, tries to build a “heart-pounding list.” Made as a travel diary, Without sun is recognized not only for its experimental audacity but also for illustrating a new type of audiovisual practice: the film essay.

Direction: Chris Marker / Script: Chris Marker / Music: Chris Marker / Photography: Chris Marker / Interventions by: Florence Delay, Arielle Dombasle / Producer: Argos Films

SATURDAY JUNE 10 / 6 PM

Double program + Short films

The Pier

(France, 1962, 29′)

Of Chris Marker

After an apocalyptic nuclear war, the known world has been devastated. In this context, a group of scientists comes to the conclusion that the only possibility of saving humanity lies in the manipulation of time. Philosophical story and visionary tragedy, the film follows the story of a survivor who will be trapped in the vertigo of memory.

Direction: Chris Marker / Guión: Chris Marker / Music: Trevor Duncan / Photography: Jean Chiabaud / Reparto: Hélène Chatelain, Davos Hanich, Jacques Ledoux, André Heinrich, Pierre Joffroy, Jacques Branchu, Étienne Becker, Philbert von Lifchitz, Ligia Borowcyk, Janine Klein / Producer: Argos Films

The sixth face of the Pentagon

(France, 1962, 28′)

Of Chris Marker

A Zen proverb states: “If the five sides of the Pentagon seem impregnable to you, attack on the sixth.” Exceptional documentary about the peaceful march towards the Pentagon headquarters in Washington, organized in October 1967 by thousands of young people who opposed the Vietnam War. Chris Marker dives into this first direct action after military recruiters visit American universities to encourage students to join the military.

Direction: Chris Marker, François Reichenbach / Guión: Chris Marker / Music: Harald Maury, Antoine Bonfanti / Photography: Chris Marker, François Reichenbach, Christian Odasso, Tony Daval / Producer: Society for the Launch of New Works (SLON)

Nicolas Zukerfeld

(1982). Graduated from the University of Cinema (FUC). Theoretical-practical teacher at the FUC, in the chairs of Film History I, Script II and Documentary Script. Teacher of the Paideia secondary school in the field of Audiovisual Arts. As a film critic, he is part of the staff of Revista de Cine. His last movie There are no thirty-six ways to show how a man gets on a horse It has been released at the New York Film Festival and at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival.