This year at the Cannes Film Festival, French director Arnaud Desplechin presents a new film called Filmlovers!, which is a charming tribute to moviegoers rather than moviemakers. This film, though not his most significant work, is a light and enjoyable one, marking a return to form after some of his heavier recent films.
Film lovers! is split into two parts. The first is a documentary section where Desplechin shares his thoughts on film and includes interviews with regular moviegoers who talk about their movie memories and preferences, like the first movie they saw or where they like to sit in the theater. This part doesn’t tell you the names of the movies shown in clips, which either sparks your own memories or makes you curious about films you haven’t seen.
The second part is a semi-autobiographical story about Paul Dédalus, a character Desplechin has used before, who grows from a young movie lover to a film student in his thirties. Throughout his life, watching movies is more important to him than making them, which is summed up by his statement, Cinema is a question, not an answer.
The film also features conversations with film critics and other knowledgeable figures, but it maintains a light, conversational tone, exploring film history and theory in a way that’s accessible to everyone. One notable scene has a young film fan discussing the nature of reality in film with philosopher Sandra Laugier in a café.
Desplechin also delves into his personal connections to movies, like his profound reaction to the documentary Shoah and his sadness over the death of actress Misty Upham, who he had worked with. These moments show his dual identity as both a filmmaker and a film viewer.
'Filmlovers!' Review: Arnaud Desplechin Gets Back on Track With a Breezy but Thoughtful Ode to Cinephilia https://t.co/5JVh4hNZrb
— Variety (@Variety) May 29, 2024
In the narrative parts of the film, we see Dédalus as a teenager and as an adult, and these scenes are where the film feels most personal. For instance, a young Dédalus travels to watch an Ingmar Bergman film, finding deep emotional connection despite being warned he might find it boring.
Overall, Filmlovers! argues that our relationship with cinema evolves as we do, and Desplechin’s own journey with film is still progressing. This delightful film suggests that both the director and his audience have more growth to do with cinema. Source
