Day 22: Film Critic Guest Lecture

In the morning we saw La Heine, a painful portrait of three disadvantaged youth in the rundown suburbs of Paris.  It was tragic and raw, one of the best films we had seen thus far.

Lunch was held in our favorite patisserie that we go to every morning for breakfast.  I tried to get the formule for six euros but was charged eight.  But the woman I usually ask for orange juice is always  really nice to us so I didn't complain about it.

In the afternoon we had a film critic give a guest lecture.  I won't provide her name so I can offer a critique without feeling bad if it were to pop up on Google or something.  She got her start with Variety as a film columnist, which I thought was amazing.  Her lecture was mostly really interesting, and she painted an incredibly attractive picture of Paris as a sanctuary for lovers of the arts to live.  "In France, art matters," she said.  "It's not optional."

Which is not the case in the US, as she kept pointing out.  Arts programs are no longer a staple in schools, an increasing problem as the economy continues to dwindle.  And even while the US is self-sufficient in entertainment and exports (most countries headline American films in their own theaters), art itself is not valued.  Here critics don't explore cinema as a forum for discussion; they broadcast their star ratings and decide what is "good" or "bad." 

I absolutely agree with that statement, and no longer want to do that in my own writing.  Why does a "review" mean that the self-perceived goodness or badness of a film must be preached?  Why can't things be more open-ended, and the cinema heralded as art?

Because Americans (me included) are constantly in consumer mode.  If one doesn't think a film is going to be "good," one generally doesn't want to "waste" his/her time on it.

All these issues were discussed throughout the presentation.  It really undermined my whole perception of reviewing film, and made me sad that we don't appreciate art in the same way the French--and really Europeans--do.

So this first part of the lecture was thought-provoking and extremely worthwhile.  But then came the Q&A.  Aliko asked a question about French national cinema, and I asked a question about jobs as a film critic.  She danced around both questions for a long time, but never answered either.  And so it ended on a disappointing note.

Nonetheless the first part has stuck with me since Tuesday, and I'm glad she addressed those issues.

Walking total for the day: 5.9 miles.