Jane B. par Agnès V.

Jane B. par Agnès V. is a 1988 French docudrama film directed by Agnès Varda and starring French-English actress Jane Birkin. The film was conceived when Birkin admitted to Varda she was apprehensive about turning 40 and Varda told her it was a beautiful age and the perfect time to make a portrait on Birkin's life.

Jane B. par Agnès V.
Directed byAgnès Varda
StarringJane Birkin
Release date
  • 1988 (1988)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

The film mixes interviews with Birkin about her past and current life with small vignettes where she takes on roles that either she or Varda are interested in seeing her play.

Synopsis

In Varda's own words

It all began with a letter Jane Birkin wrote me after seeing Vagabond. Written in a moment of emotion, it was illegible. Chicken scratch. I asked her to come decipher for me. We sat in the kitchen. We talked about our children. Mathieu was just over 14. Lou was four. Charlotte was 16. We decided to go to the park the following Sunday. We were walking along when she suddenly said "It's terrible. I'm going to be 40!" I said, "Don't be silly. It's a wonderful age. Perfect time to do your portrait. That's how it began.

I suggested to this vivacious and lively woman that we do the opposite of those tributes to deceased actresses that show excerpts from their films and interviews. I said, "We'll show excerpts of films you haven't made, films we've made up, and we'll fabricate some interviews."

It's a surprise portrait, in which Jane plays many roles, including herself, with a variety of partners. She was a good sport. She was funny, strange, magnificent, moving. It's variations on a variable and varied woman.[1][2]

Production

The film has a sister project in Kung Fu Master.[2][3] [4]

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin's daughter, later admitted to disliking both the filming of Jane B. par Agnès V. and Kung Fu Master as Varda and her film crew remained camped in her home for a year in order to complete the projects.[5]

Reception and release

In 2015 both Kung Fu Master and Jane B. par Agnès V. were acquired for U.S. distribution by Cinelicious Pics.[6] The films enjoyed a brief theatrical release before being streamed on the movie streaming service Fandor.[7] Varda expressed frustration at the film's limited release, saying "I can get the Palme d’Or, but I can’t get exhibition, so it’s a contradiction."[8]

The film was re-released in North America in August of 2020 by The Criterion Collection as part of a box set featuring the complete films of Agnès Varda.[2]

References
  1. Varda, Agnès. "Jane B. par Agnès V." The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  2. Varda, Agnès. "The Complete Films of Agnès Varda". The Criterion Collection. Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  3. "Kung-Fu Master!". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  4. Cook, Adam. "Mirror, Mirror: Birkin by Varda by Birkin". Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  5. Adams, Sam. "Charlotte Gainsbourg". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  6. Lattanzio, Ryan. "Two Agnès Varda Discoveries Headed for Re-Release". Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  7. Lee, Kevin B. "33 Jane Birkins by Agnès Varda". HuffPost. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  8. Riefe, Jordan. "French New Wave Icon Agnes Varda's 'Jane B.' Gets U.S. Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
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