The List: 25 Jul 1986 (27/44)

— VAGABONDE ‘

Vagabonde (15) (Agnes Varda, France, 1985) Sandrine Bonnaire, Macha Méril, Yolande Moreau. 106 mins. Vagabonde begins with the discovery of a young woman‘s corpse in a vineyard in the South of France and then proceeds to retrace the long and winding road that had led her to freeze to death in a ditch.

Seeking some illumination of her lifestyle the film recreates moments from her last few months and invokes the documentary-like testimony of those who witnessed her on the road. A former secretary, apparently disaffected by the conventionality of her life, Mona had been vagrant, beholden to no one and concerned only with securing the bare necessities of life. Having dropped out she appeared to have been searching for that elusive state known as freedom, but a freedom

' of a profoundly nihilistic kind that

involves no goals, no alternative strategies but merely a transient state of wandering and being.

Agnes Varda has described her film as ‘an investigation of loneliness’ and Vagabonde defiantly refuses to sentimentalise or romanticise the condition of its central character. Mona is no rebel attracted to a footloose retreat from the madness of civilisation but a frankly unsympathetic young woman whose sense of freedom involves only loneliness, hunger and

inﬂuential shoestring success: ‘a fable for the workless’. Edinburgh: Filmhouse

0 To Our Loves ( 15) (Maurice Pialat. France. 1983) Sandrine Bonnaire. Dominique Besnehard. Maurice Pialat. 102 mins. A 15 year-old in her desire to break free from parental constraints and find some elusive emotional contact descends into a life of promiscuity and family conflict. Filmed with a customary use of amateur actors and much improvisation to reach a greater realism. Pialat‘s film seems excessively shrill even by his own fierce standards. but as per usual the performances are the thing and do not disappoint. Sandrine Bonnairc. in her debut. makes a vital and ultimately sympathetic heroine. Glasgow; OFF

0 Vagabonde (15) (Agnes Varda,

\z '2‘. -. if.“ f. ' . In . hypothermia.Su merhitchhiking evokes images of sun and carefree youth but Mona’s vagrancy takes place against the bleak landscape of rural France in the unyielding grip of bleak mid-winter. Her aggressive stance of complete independence creates a figure who provokes admiration and a disturbing distaste in almost equal measures.

11 Mona herself is an unfathomable woman then her presence serves as a revealing catalyst to the emotions and frustrations of those whom she meets. Brief encounters with her blankness prompt heartache and soul-searching among those seemingly confident of their place and include one joyous communion with an old woman only too

- aware of the veiled hypocrisy in the

vulture-like visits of her charming nephew who impatiently awaits her demise.

The essence of Mona and the wintry setting combine to turn Vagabonde into an austere and lyrical portrait of a senseless pursuit of freedom that gains enormously from the uncompromising performance of Sandrine Bonnaire, previously seen in Maurice Pialat’s To Our Loves. An unexpected prize-winner at last year’s Venice Festival, the film is an unhurried. intense and affecting memorial to a troubled and despairing representative of 80s’ youth. (Allan Hunter)

France, 1985) Sandrine Bonnaire. Macha Menl. Yolande Moreau. 106

mins. See Caption Review. Edinburgh: Filmhouse

o Wages of Fear (PG) (Henri-Georges Clouzot, France. 1953) Yves Montand. Charles Vanel, Peter Van Eyck. 144 mins. In a sleazy South American shanty-town four equally sleazy desperadoes agree to drive, for an incredible sum, two truck loads of nitro-glycerine across the mountains. Bring a sponge to wipe up the sweat: this classic suspense vehicle creates buckets of the stuff. A fine sourpuss vision of man’s greed married to film-making of unbearable tension. Glasgow; GET 0 Women In Arms ( 15) (Victoria Schultz. Nicaragua/US. 1980) 59 mins. Victoria Schultz‘s important documentary concentrates on the role played by women in the

FILM LIST WWW ._

Nicaraguan revolution. where they made up 30% of the Sandinista forces. As the women speak of their experiences during the struggle. their bravery and their fight to maintain their rights as women is forcefully articulated. Edinburgh: Filmhousc

0 Zina i‘r (KenMcMullen. UK. 1985) Domiziana Giordano, Philip

Madoc. lan McKellan. 90mins. Ken

McMullcn's vastly ambitious film focuses on the obsessions of Zina Bronstein. daughter of Leon Trotsky. and in particular her sessions with her Berlin psychiatrist to explore the atmosphere of a turbulent period in European history. A continual interplay between the public and the personal. blending historical events and psychoanalysis. is filmed in a compelling and precise manner which combines an intricately choreographed camera with

i carefully measured compositions.

McMullcn follows (ihost Dance with :

another virtuoso display of his

5 esotericbut brilliantly cinematic

style of film-making. Edinburgh: Filmhousc

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LISTINGS

- This section gives details of

programmes showing at cinemas in central Scotland over the next fortnight. Readers are advised that many cinemas in the Strathclyde and Lothian regions are unable to provide The List with details of their programming for both weeks covered by each issue, as these may not be available atthe time of going to press. These listings therefore provide an accurate guide to programmes for one week only, unless further dates are specified. Readers are advised that programmes may be subject to late change at anytime.

Cinemas operating a family discount

scheme allow an adult accompanying a

child to ‘U' and ‘PG' certificate programmes to gain admission forthe same price as the child up to 6pm. Times given are Start of Programme times.

EDINBURGH ' _

0 ADC Lothian Road. 229 3030. Bar:

Ham—2.30pm. 5- 10pm (Mon—Thurs). llam—l lpm (Fri/Sat). 5—10pm (Sun). [D] cinemas 2 & 3 prior notification advisable. £2.70. £2.30 Child £1 .40. £1 .30 OAP £1 (before 6pm). Family discount scheme operates.

1. My Little Pony (U) 1.10pm. Sun 3.50pm. Police Academy 3: Back in Training (PG) 3.40pm. (1. 10pm. 8.40pm. Sun6. 10pm. 8.40pm.

2. ET. (U) 2.05pm. 5.05pm. 8.05pm. Sun 5.05pm. 8.05pm.

3. The Color Purple ( 15) 2.20pm. 7.20pm. Sun 7.20pm.

From 1 Aug: Cobra ( 18) 3pm. 6pm. 9pm

The List: 25 Jul 1986 (Issue 21)