What does it mean, to go to the movies? Why have people been going for over one hundred years? I set out to celebrate movie theaters and their manifold magic. So I walked in the footsteps of young Paul Dédalus, as if in a filmgoer’s coming-of-age story. Memories, fiction, discoveries come together in an irrepressible torrent of pictures.

Filmlovers! is Arnaud Desplechin's autobiographical exploration of cinephilia, an upbeat ode that masterfully blends documentary and fiction. The film is structured as a semi-autobiographical narrative, interwoven with the director's first-person commentary, interviews, carefully curated film clips, and re-enactments of cinephile exploits. Desplechin artfully arranges these elements to evoke cinematic memories and ignite curiosity about the medium. In the fictional segments, Paul, the protagonist, leads a cine club at school, nurturing his love for cinema. As a curator and projectionist, he conjures entire worlds through films. The documentary's highlight features interviews with anonymous moviegoers, sharing memories of their first and scariest films, repeat viewings, emotional responses, and even preferred seating. Their favorite films span from Mission Impossible (1996) to The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967). The film also offers a concise overview of film history and criticism, touching on pivotal figures and moments: Eadweard Muybridge's motion studies, Thomas Edison's kinetoscope, the Lumière brothers' groundbreaking work, and Jean-Luc Godard's revolutionary approach. It also references philosopher Stanley Cavell's insights and André Bazin's influential observations. The French title, "Spectateurs!" (spectators), underscores the film's celebration of cinema's audience dynamics and the relationship between viewers and the screen.

Filmlovers! captures the communal and individual experiences of cinema, reflecting on how films impact us both personally and collectively. The film celebrates the diversity of viewers' reactions and the profound effect of movies on their lives. It blends lyrical and intellectual exploration with personal and historical reflections, showcasing cinema as a shared, democratic experience that connects and enriches us all.

• ProducerCharles GILLIBERT, Eric NEBOT
• Screenplay Arnaud DESPLECHIN
• Cinematography Noé BACH
• Edit Laurence BRIAUD
• Production Design Toma BAQUENI
• Sound Antoine MERCIER, Sylvain MALBRANT, Emmanuel CROSET
• Music Grégoire HETZEL
• Cast Raphaëlle QUINET

Les Films du Losange

r.quinet@filmsdulosange.fr