Nico lends her face and her long dark silhouette to Le Bleu des Origines, a survival, silent black & white film shot with a hand camera, a journey into Philippe Garrel’s intimate family album featuring the two women who counted in his cinematographic life: Nico and Zouzou. One day in Spring 1978 Garrel visits Zouzou, rue Rambuteau, and tells her he wants to film her here there and then. The film features a few shots of Garrel filmed by Zouzou. The film was produced under the worst conditions as Nico explains: “I have to carry the equipment and everything. I’m worn out after two hours of shooting. It’s so cold outside, especially on the roof of the Opéra. It’s never been as difficult for me to shoot a movie.”
Philippe Garrel is a French director, cinematographer, screenwriter, editor and producer. His movies have won him awards at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival. He was born in Paris in 1948, the son of actor Maurice Garrel. He started his film career early directing and writing his first film Lés Enfants Désaccordés in 1964. Garrel met Nico in 1969 when she performed the song “The Falconer” for his film Le Lit de la Vierge and the couple were soon living together. Nico first appeared in the 1972 film La Cicatrice Intériure (aka the Inner Scar). Songs included in the film appear on Nico’s album Desertshore, which features stills from the film on the front and back covers. Nico appeared in a number of Garrel’s films after this. Their ten year relationship ended in 1979.
Prix Jean Vigo for the film L’Enfant Secret. He won Perspectives du Cinéma Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984 for his 1983 film la Nuit Liberté. Over a ten year period, Garrel enjoyed… read more