Dear Shaded Viewers,
This is beyond low-fi, but if you speak French you might enjoy the director of the documentary of L’Enfer by Henri-Georges Clouzot speaking the other day with the audience at the Balzac cinema in Paris. I went to the cinema having no idea that the director would be present to screen his film. I took my seat in the last row as usual and when I understood that Serge Bromberg was there I took out my video camera to record what he had to say. It’s a sound byte but I thought that you would enjoy hearing him as much as I did. In brief, the director of the documentary, Serge Bromberg found the images in 30 seconds that was the easy part but getting the ok from the family was another. Many people had been trying to get the film for the past half a century. Determined to make this film, Serge went to see Madame Clouzot and pleaded his cause. She said so many people had demanded the same thing. They spoke for one hour. He was convinced that he would get the film. At the end of the long discussion she said you are very enthusiastic and special, I will tell you what I will do, I cannot give you the film but since you are a nice man, I’ll walk you to the elevator. He was totally disillusioned and while waiting for the elevator to arrive he again told Madame Clouzot how special he was and how documentaries were his thing she said as you will not stop here, I’ll accompany you to the ground floor and that is where his film begins.In 1964 the French filmmaker Henri Georges CLouzot began work on L’Enfer which was to be his greatest film. Three weeks into the shoot the film was abandoned. Almost half a century later the rushes were found and restored. Serge Bromberg, in my super low-fi sound byte tells of his meeting with Madame Clouzot in his attempt to recover the footage.
Later,
Diane
