Todd Haynes Retrospective - Paris, France
The Todd Haynes Retrospective was held May 10-29, 2023, at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. The retrospective featured a great number of his works as well as workshops, and discussions following the films. Todd Haynes is now considered an American director who grew up in the era of counterculture, which is reflected in his films. His career began when he was only 17 years old with his short film The Suicide (1978) and now he has his newest film May December (2023) premiering this year. Todd Haynes has directed a total of 16 works, and has been nominated for several prestigious awards.
Having the honour to attend one of his films and discussions that followed was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but attending two of them made it surreal. I had the lucky opportunity to attend the screening of I’m Not There (2007) as well as Carol (2015), both followed by a discussion with Todd Haynes and Cate Blanchett. Starting at 16:00 both Todd and Cate greeted the cinema while Todd said a few words about the retrospective and thanked Cate for joining him today. After a few words from Todd, they took their seats, and the film began.
I’m Not There was co-written and directed by Todd Haynes. The film stars Ben Whishaw, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Marcus Carl Franklin, and Richard Gere all portraying six different personas of the legendary musician Bob Dylan. Shown in an intertwined timeline, the film shows Dylan’s rise from unknown folk singer to an international sensation, showing how he constantly reinvented himself. Originally shot on 35mm, the Centre Pompidou found and played this version of the film, a beautiful site. Running at 135 minutes, I’m Not There plays at a good rate for most of the film. Without knowing much about Dylan myself, the film was still informative, but it was the acting and technical work that caught my attention the most. It is clear that much though and effort was put into the cinematography of the film, shot by Edward Lachman, the eyes are drawn to every shot. The acting, as well, conveys the messages that Haynes put in the script and the different personalities/identities of Dylan shine through completely. Of course, the work done by Cate Blanchett is stupendous.
Following the screening of I’m Not There, Todd and Cate were joined by a member of the Centre Pompidou, as well as a translator to discuss the film. Several questions were asked; including how Todd came about the idea of creating the film, choosing Cate to play the identity of Bob Dylan which she did, how Cate accepted the role, and other questions surrounding the film’s creation and existence.
For the second showing, at 20:00, a Centre Pompidou employee introduced the film to the audience and then it begun. Also shown on film, this showing was however not attended by Todd and Cate. Carol is the film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt (1952). Todd Haynes has written all of his films, but Carol was the first of which he was approached with a script already conceived. When he knew Cate would be part of the project, he signed on to direct immediately. The screenplay was written by Phyllis Nagy and was in talks with Cate before Todd became involved. Carol takes place in 1950s New York and stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. From the point of view of Therese Belivet in the novel, the film plays on this. Therese is a young woman who wants a better life than the one she’s currently in. Everything changes for her when, while at work in the department store, she meets an older, married woman. Having seen the film many times before, this was the second time I was able to watch the masterpiece on the big screen. What I believe to be one of the most memorable scores starts the film off on a high note, the beautiful music that comes to repeat in different ways throughout the film. Portraying the titular character, Cate Blanchett is mysterious and alluring, while also showing the vulnerability of her character. Rooney Mara as well uses what she once referred to as her real-life admiration of Cate to show Therese’s interest in this mysterious woman. Forever one of my favourite films.
As the credits began to roll, Cate and Todd walked down the aisle and stood and listened to the clapping and standing ovation from the audience. Taking their seats, the second discussion of the night began. The interviewer asked both Todd and Cate individual questions, going back and forth between the two. Todd discussed how he found out Blanchett and Nagy were working together on this time period film and got involved immediately. Blanchett referred to having read the book in her past, and when the opportunity came to adapt it into a film she took it. Looking back on creating the film, and working with Rooney Mara and Sarah Paulson, the two enjoyed themselves with the audience.
Being in the presence of Todd Haynes and Cate Blanchett alone was an experience I will never forget. And to make it even better, Todd and Cate met with fans after the final talk to sign autographs and take photos. The two of them continue to be an inspiration for those of us in the industry, and I am grateful every day that I got to experience this retrospective.
Be sure to check out Haynes’ new film May December and Blanchett’s new film The New Boy whenever they hit cinemas in the (hopefully) near future.
