Histoire(s) du Cinéma 2a: Only Cinema (1997)

Histoire(s) du Cinéma 2a: Only Cinema Poster
Original Title: Histoire(s) du cinéma 2a : seul le cinéma

A very personal look at the history of cinema directed, written and edited by Jean-Luc Godard in his Swiss residence in Rolle for ten years (1988-98); a monumental collage, constructed from film fragments, texts and quotations, photos and paintings, music and sound, and diverse readings; a critical, beautiful and melancholic vision of cinematographic art.

Intro
"Histoire(s) du Cinéma 2a: Only Cinema" is the second part of French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard's reflection on the impact and significance of cinema as an art kind and as a record of human history. This 1997 speculative video essay embarks on a reflective journey of movie history, reinforcing the crucial role of movie in forming mankind's understanding of reality, history and itself.

The Artistic Approach
In "Histoire(s) du Cinéma 2a: Only Cinema", Godard integrates a collage of iconic film clips, images, texts, music, sound results, and narrative, creating a distinct, avant-garde tapestry of cinematic exploration. This intertwined audiovisual assemblage carries a poetic resonance, a sense of sentimental yearning, and a profound reflective depth that challenges viewers both visually and intellectually.

Thematic Discussion
The central theme of "Only Cinema" is cinema's special power to inform stories, maintain memories, and deliver facts. Throughout the movie, Godard dissects, scrutinizes, and honors cinema's appeal and capability. He utilizes various methods such as juxtaposition, montage, and interleaving images and sounds to stimulate feelings, provoke ideas, and expose covert connections between varied cinematic works.

Running parallel to his exploration of cinema's capacity is a meditation on the harmful effect of modern-day warfare. Godard provides grim pictures of war and genocide together with golden-era Hollywood film snippets, recommending that cinema - although a tool for storytelling and memory preservation - is likewise complicit in the creation of propagandistic impressions and ideological distortions.

Reflection on the Film Industry
Below the wider style of cinema's dual power for truth-telling and illusion-casting, Godard mentions the movie industry's shift from a creative venture to an economic enterprise. He laments the loss of movie theater's original spirit in the face of commercialization and commodification. This subtle review uses a sobering analysis of the movie industry's past, present, and future.

Conclusion
"Histoire(s) du Cinéma 2a: Only Cinema" is mainly a love letter to movie theater, in spite of its critical undertones. Godard's personal touch is evident in every frame, noise, and speech. His incandescent passion for and comprehensive knowledge of film shines through this elaborate montage of cinematic artifacts.

Even in resolving cinema's complexities and contradictions, Godard highlights its developmental influence over private and societal understandings and conceptions. He thinks about movie theater not as a mere art type however a crucial medium of human expression and understanding.

Eventually, "Histoire(s) du Cinéma 2a: Only Cinema" serves as an enduring testimony to movie's enduring appeal and its capability to mirror, influence, and go beyond reality. The thought-provoking and aesthetically compelling work engages, challenges, and inspires viewers to reassess the location and power of cinema in human presence. It's a testimony to Godard's proficiency and movie theater's potential, offering an extreme and illuminating experience for any movie enthusiast or scholar.

Top Cast

  • Jean-Luc Godard (small)
    Jean-Luc Godard
    Self - Filmmaker / Narrator (voice)
  • Julie Delpy (small)
    Julie Delpy
    Girl
  • Serge Daney
    Self - Film Critic (archive footage)