Claire Denis, filmmaker of the decade.

By: Jose Sarmiento Hinojosa

Damon Smith: When one rather hostile viewer demanded that you explain, in plain language, what L’Intrus was “about”, you responded graciously.

Claire Denis: For me, I was not gracious. [Laughs.] I was bored and tired. But you know, I have to be gracious. I wanted to respect a question like that. It’s not easy to wave people off. But, on the other hand, I don’t want to defend the film. I think in a way people expect so much of a film, so many answers, that they are very much afraid to let themselves drift. My films are not highly intellectual, and L’Intrus is like a boat lost in the ocean drifting, you know? I think that’s the way I picture it.

That gentleman was furious, probably, because he thought it was a very arrogant film, that we didn’t care whether people understood. And if I would have had time, I would have told him, “The level is not as high as you think.”