Jean-Luc Godard’s Last Film ‘Scénarios,’ Completed the Day Before He Died, Reveals Trailer Before Cannes Debut: ‘His Whole Life Was a Work of Art’
17.05.2024 - 10:51
/ variety.com
Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent On Sept. 12, 2022, the day before Jean-Luc Godard died by assisted suicide at 91 in his home in Rolle, Switzerland, the Godfather of French New Wave completed his final 18-minute film, “Scénarios,” which premieres on today in Cannes. “Scénarios” — which comprises two components called “DNA, Fundamental Elements” and “MRI, Odyssey” — is followed by “Exposé du Film Annonce du Film ‘Scènario,’” a 34-minute, behind-the-scenes doc about the making of Godard’s last short.
Iranian multi-hyphenate Mitra Farahani, who was close to Godard in his final years and produced “Scénarios” and the making-of film, spoke to Variety about the highly symbolic project. Watch its official trailer above. What is the origin of these two Godard short films? After completing “The Image Book” in 2018, Godard began a new project called “Scénario.” He knew — as he said at the time — that this would be his last project.
It wasn’t just a film, but a three-part project. He wrote in his notebook: “Parts 1 and 2, known respectively as the ‘Narrated Scenario’ and the ‘Filmed Scenario,’ and Part 3, known as the ‘Operated Scenario,’ will wait for better days and nights.” Over time, the project was narrowed down to a single film for which he produced several notebooks, like stages in the construction of the film. Godard worked throughout the COVID period.
But as the years went by, his body began to tire. The two components present in Cannes are the relics of that great project. From the moment that his Exit Association appointment was made, an urgent need to finish the work took hold.