In November 1985, during the Cinémathèque Française’s 50th anniversary and the publication of the landmark book Jean-Luc Godard Par Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Luc Godard agreed to a rare public discussion after completing Détective (1985) and Hail Mary (1985). He reflects on cinema and its uncertain future, art, politics, and other subjects in his singular manner. Raymond Depardon and fellow filmmakers recorded the event on 16mm. Rediscovered by the Cinémathèque in 2023 and now newly edited, the footage captures one master filmmaker listening to the wisdom, riddles, and declarations of another. 

On November 27, 1985, as part of a special program marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Cinémathèque Française, Jean-Luc Godard agreed to take part in a public conversation organized by the institution. Introduced by filmmaker Costa-Gavras, then its president, Godard screened and compared excerpts from seventeen films under the title “An A/B History of Cinema.” He then spoke about the project that would later become Histoire(s) du cinéma (1998). Using a handheld camera, Raymond Depardon recorded the encounter on 16mm film, creating an eighty-minute documentary.
The Godard captured by Depardon remains an incomparable thinker of cinema. His ability to guide the conversation offers profound insights into his philosophy of filmmaking, his understanding of film history, and what cinematic images can bring to us. His mode of thought may seem unfamiliar to many viewers, yet it is fascinating to listen closely to what he seeks within cinema. The film’s value lies in allowing us to attend to Godard as he speaks to the audience almost as though delivering a lecture. The entire process is deeply compelling.

• Cast Jean-Luc GODARD