Tuesday, August 4, 2009

C'était un Rendez-Vous

We Americans like to make fun of Frenchmen, accusing them of being overly romantic or effeminate, but it must be said: Some Frenchmen are total badasses. Quirky and stylish badassses, but badasses nonetheless. Philippe Petit, for example. Actually, maybe he was the only one I knew of until today, when the Very Short List brought another to my attention: film director Claude Lelouch. In 1976, he stuck a camera on the hood of his sports car (Can someone tell me what car it is, by the way? It sounds awesome.) and made this nine minute short film, driving at unthinkable speeds through the open streets of Paris in the early morning.

Idiotic? Yes. Illegal? Absolutely. (He was arrested after the first screening of the film.) Romantic? Of course. (Make sure to watch all the way to the end.) Badass? You betcha.

Please, fullscreen this sucker. Tiny windows don't do it justice.

2 comments:

  1. NICK!!!
    i'm sitting at bluestem bistro
    and watched the entire thing
    with a gawking expression/smile on my face
    and my heart in my THROAT


    that was amazing!!
    prob more amazing since i was just there and recognized so much of the places he drove.
    he ended at montmartre, which is perfect.
    it was perfectly french.
    i LOVED this.

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  2. Translation: The film that you are about to see was made with no faking or acceleration.

    ReplyDelete