Claire Denis: BEAU TRAVAIL.

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,...