In Praise of Love
Encyclopedia
In Praise of Love (2001
) is a French film
directed by Jean-Luc Godard
. The black-and white
and colour drama was shot by Julien Hirsch and Christophe Pollock.
Godard has famously stated that, "A film should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order". This aphorism is illustrated by In Praise of Love (Éloge de l'amour).
Half way through the film we are taken back to a period that is about two years in the past. This section is shot in saturated colours employing digital video and involves a meeting with the mysterious young woman who fails to connect with the young writer.
, A.O. Scott, while praising the film also found its anti-American content polemical. He wrote, "In Praise of Love, it must be said, is the most elegant and coherent feature he has made since the mid-1980's. His visual command -- of the velvety shadows of black-and-white 35-millimeter film and the thick, supersaturated tones of digital video -- still has the power to astonish, and his debonair gloom remains seductive. But to continue with the notebook analogy, the decorous prose, graceful penmanship and impressive paper stock cannot disguise the banality of what is written." Film Comment
named it one of the top 50 films of the decade (2000s).
Not all reviews have been all positive, though. Film critics Roger Ebert
and Charles Taylor
criticized In Praise of Love for its perceived anti-Americanism, "elliptical narrative" and its attacks on Steven Spielberg, which Ebert believed were "painful and unfair". Taylor was particularly scathing, criticizing Godard for "talking about Americans having no stories of their own, no past of their own (he claims we don't even have a name)" and questioned "How can a man who, along with his colleagues in the French new wave, did more than anyone to alert America to the art of its movies, the art we always took for granted, suddenly turn around and proclaim the whole culture worthless?"
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes
reported that 53% of mainstream critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 70 reviews. Metacritic
reported the film had an average score of 62 out of 100, based on 27 reviews.
Nominations
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
) is a French film
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
. The black-and white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
and colour drama was shot by Julien Hirsch and Christophe Pollock.
Godard has famously stated that, "A film should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order". This aphorism is illustrated by In Praise of Love (Éloge de l'amour).
Plot
The first half of the film, shot in black and white, relates the story of a frustrated love affair involving a young Parisian scriptwriter struggling to create a "project" about love.Half way through the film we are taken back to a period that is about two years in the past. This section is shot in saturated colours employing digital video and involves a meeting with the mysterious young woman who fails to connect with the young writer.
Cast
- Bruno PutzuluBruno PutzuluBruno Putzulu is a French actor, born on May 24, 1967 in Toutainville in Eure.- Biography :Originally Sardinian by his father, Bruno was born and raised in Toutainville. He likes football, however it chose an acting career...
as Edgar - Cecile Camp as Elle
- Jean Davy as Grandfather
- Françoise Verny as Grandmother
- Audrey Klebaner as Eglantine
- Jérémie Lippmann as Perceval
- Claude Baignières as Mr. Rosenthal
- Rémo Forlani as Mayor Forlani
- Mark Hunter as U.S. Journalist
- Jean Lacouture as Historian
- Philippe Lyrette as Philippe, Edgar's Assistant
- Bruno Mesrine as Magician
- Djéloul Beghoura as Algerian
- Violeta Ferrer as Woman 1
- Valérie Ortlieb as Woman 2
Critical reception
The film critic for The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, A.O. Scott, while praising the film also found its anti-American content polemical. He wrote, "In Praise of Love, it must be said, is the most elegant and coherent feature he has made since the mid-1980's. His visual command -- of the velvety shadows of black-and-white 35-millimeter film and the thick, supersaturated tones of digital video -- still has the power to astonish, and his debonair gloom remains seductive. But to continue with the notebook analogy, the decorous prose, graceful penmanship and impressive paper stock cannot disguise the banality of what is written." Film Comment
Film Comment
Film Comment is an arts and culture magazine published by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, of which it is the official publication. Film Comment features critical reviews and in-depth analysis of mainstream, art-house, and avant-garde filmmaking from around the world...
named it one of the top 50 films of the decade (2000s).
Not all reviews have been all positive, though. Film critics Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
and Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor
Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor was the 22nd President of Liberia, serving from 2 August 1997 until his resignation on 11 August 2003....
criticized In Praise of Love for its perceived anti-Americanism, "elliptical narrative" and its attacks on Steven Spielberg, which Ebert believed were "painful and unfair". Taylor was particularly scathing, criticizing Godard for "talking about Americans having no stories of their own, no past of their own (he claims we don't even have a name)" and questioned "How can a man who, along with his colleagues in the French new wave, did more than anyone to alert America to the art of its movies, the art we always took for granted, suddenly turn around and proclaim the whole culture worthless?"
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 53% of mainstream critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 70 reviews. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported the film had an average score of 62 out of 100, based on 27 reviews.
Awards
Wins- Valladolid International Film Festival: Jury Special Prize, Jean-Luc Godard; Tied with Va savoir; 2001.
- Fajr Film Festival: Crystal Simorgh, International Competition: Best Film, Jean-Luc Godard; 2002.
Nominations
- Cannes Film Festival2001 Cannes Film FestivalThe 2001 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Italian film The Son's Room by Nanni Moretti.-Jury:* Liv Ullmann, President * Mimmo Calopresti * Charlotte Gainsbourg...
: Golden Palm, Jean-Luc Godard; 2001. - Valladolid International Film Festival: Golden Spike, Jean-Luc Godard; 2001.
- Swiss Film PrizeSwiss Film PrizeThe Swiss Film Prize is the national film award of Switzerland, first given out in 1998.* 1998 to 2008 : the Prize was given in during the Solothurn Film Festival....
: Swiss Film Prize, Best Film (Bester Spielfilm), Jean-Luc Godard; 2002.
External links
- In Praise of Love film clip at You Tube