Joli mai, Le
Director: Chris Marker and Pierre Lhomme
Year Released: 1963
Rating: 2.5
Somewhat stilted but perceptive documentary on France's political status as of 1962, a year which is celebrated by Marker and cohort Lhomme as a time of peace (on the surface) in the nation. It's divided into two parts: part one is more idyllic and casual (interviews with children and young couples), while part two's conversations tend to be more windy and pensive - most memorable are the conversations with an African (who was taught by his grandmother to distrust the French) and a young Algerian worker's confrontations with racism. It's not quite as playful as some of Marker's later works, but there are some snippets of cats scattered throughout to try to dispel the air of utmost seriousness.
