I have yet to see anything but Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which I thought was fantastic and probably one of the more visually pleasing movies I have seen (this is purely based on the use of vibrant colors).
“Le Sabotier du Val de Loire” about clog makers is probably one of his most brilliant films. It is unfathomable how he could construct such a striking and personal documentary. he concludes brilliant things about the clogmaker and his personal life.Definitely worth checking out.
I enjoy those three films immensely. My favorite of Demy’s work, however, is The Young Girls of Rochefort. I understand people’s objections to Girls—it’s looser and more anarchic than Demy’s early films—but I like the songs better, it has Françoise Dorléac, and it’s the one that grabs me.
Visually pleasing, yes! I love his older films, like Lola and Bay of Angels. But his use of color elevated his films to a much higher level. I’ve only seen a few of his work post-Umbrellas of Cherbourg, but I think he’s been consistent, as far as element of style was concerned. The comedic touch and the breezy sun-drenched look, both Demy hallmarks, have always been present in his films- as evident in A Slightly Pregnant Man and The Young Girls of Rochefort, which is one of my all-time favorites. Also, his partnership with composer Michel Legrand was among of the best collaborations in film.
Howard F., thanks so much for starting this thread.
I love Demy’s first three (or four) films more than I’m capable of expressing; he was a genuine romantic who remained a stranger to both cheap sentiment and adolescent angst. There are layers of irony in his ill-fated love triangles, but depicted with a keen eye, and the most gentle of knowing affection.
I have all four of the first films on DVD, (I believe Lola and Bay of Angels are out of print—as well as Young Girls…) but they really do need the Criterion treatment. Model Shop, too, needs a release; while it was the weakest of the tetralogy that began with Lola, it is intended to complete it. Criterion needs to do an all-Demy month, to attone for a decade of neglect.
I adore Demy—Umbrellas of Cherbourg is just about my favourite film ever, if one could ever make such a declaration…it is such a precise film in tone and style, and musical arrangements.
But I also love Rochefort and Donkey Skin for the exact opposite reasons—these films are chaotic and messy and strange and dark in an absurd way, from the side-plot of an axe-murderer in Rochefort, to the blueberry little people, incest, and coin-pooping donkey in Donkey Skin. In my mind Demy is an underrated genius.
I’ll just flat-out say it…
Lola is one of the best debut features ever made, and Demy’s output in the 60’s is one of the greatest periods of artistic glory any director has achieved. Not to mention the fact that he married arguably the most talented woman to wield a camera.
All around, one of my favorite filmmakers.
Brandon Bedaw is a great guy (how do you pronounce “Bedaw”? “bè-doh”, “bee-doh”?).
However, the rare Model Shop is his weakest film; his best… hard to choose, I would say Cherbourg or Lola.
Model Shop is a weak link, I agree dan. But since it was made in ’69, I just imagine that he was exhausted after a decade of solid work.
And it’s pronounced Bed-aww.
Jacques was an amazing film talent and a very special man. If you want to know what he was like, Marc Michel in “Lola” is pretty much a self-portrait.
It’s a shame “Une Chambre en Ville” and his last film “Trois Places pour le 26th” aren’t better known.
But since it was made in ’69, I just imagine that he was exhausted after a decade of solid work.
Indeed, a minor work after lots of magnificent films is forgivable!
I heard his films described as having a “stylized naivety.” I agree with that. However, I think sustaining that delicate tone in film after film over time would be pretty difficult.
Is no one a fan of The Pied Piper?
This nouvelle vague "children’s film is amazing, and somewhat gruesome. We were dragged out of the first grade on a field trip to see it and two wimpy kids fainted.
There is a very good bio out there done by his widow Agnes Varda
Uh that bio-pic skips over a tone of things about Jacques.
I just saw Lola… what a great film. The cyclical storyline was just amazing. Just such a deep, and fully absorbing experience. I must see more, I think.
Does anyone know the name(s) of the Bach music used in The Model Shop? It is the most haunting music, and I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. Thanks.
I’ve been considering renting one of his films soon since several are on NetFlix, however I noticed that Lola is currently unavailable while Model Shop is. It won’t likely be my first, but I wondered if it would matter seeing the latter before the former since they are centered on the same character?
Howard Fritzson
I want opinions. I ADORE Jacques Demy’s first three films: Lola, Bay Of Angels and The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg. I think they are profound achievements. The rest of his career has been a search for the inspiration that he had with these extraordinary films. For me, at least. What do you think?