Agnès Varda was a pioneer of French cinema whose work remains as relevant as ever, a testament to her artistic vision, her intellectual curiosity, and her compassion for the world around her. With a detailed exploration of the life and work of the celebrated filmmaker, the book considers key films in terms of Varda’s life, the cultural context of their production, as well as their primary themes.

Starting with Varda’s ‘analogue’ period and her first film La Pointe Courte in 1955 up to the end of the 1990s, the book covers Varda’s short films and documentaries as well as key feature films such as Cleo from 5 to 7 and Happiness, followed by an exploration of her ‘digital’ phase from The Gleaners and I (2000) to Varda by Agnès (2019).

Always ahead of its time, Varda’s work often blended documentary and fiction, showing an openness to experimentation through her unique personal expression. She became an iconic figure in the world of cinema, celebrated for her originality, her empathy, and her trailblazing contributions to filmmaking. Her reputation as one of the world’s most important and influential filmmakers continues to grow.

About the author

Dr. Paul Sutton is an independent film scholar who has taught Film Studies in UK higher education for over 25 years. His research covers psychoanalytic and film theory as well as Italian and French cinema and critical theory.