“I shall not fail to uphold my reputation. I am particularly pleased by all the protests and whistles directed at me this evening, and if you do not like me, I can say that I do not like you either.” —Maurice Pialat

French director Maurice Pialat won his first and only Palme d’Or for the controversial religious drama Under the Sun of Satan in 1987. The decision was apparently unanimous among the jury, but the audience booed him forcibly, prompting a defiant speech.

Pialat’s films embody a rage against the meaninglessness of the world, and the pain inflicted by perpetual dissatisfaction, seizing on the rawness of emotions that can’t be controlled and threaten to spill over. But his cinema is also full of beauty, warmth and freedom, boasting a candid spark of authenticity. Ultimately, Pialat’s films have the rare quality of being both hostile and inviting in equal measure. Pialat is often compared to John Cassavetes, and his influence has been recognised by modern masters such as Arnaud Desplechin, Leos Carax, Philippe Garrel, and Chantal Akerman. These are all lines that we need to draw in our attempt to frame the unframable: here lies a truly wild filmmaker, one who is extraordinary and unique. This program is a celebration of his uncompromising vision. Let this be our love letter to the man who didn’t want to be loved.

Bradley Walsh

Regisseur/euse