Agnès Varda

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

May 30, 1928 · Ixelles, Belgium

Died

March 29, 2019

Birth name

Arlette Varda

"In my films, I've always wanted to make people see deeply. I don't want to show things, but to give people the desire to see." Photographer, director, actress, screenwriter, and visual artist, Agnès Varda was a multifaceted creative force and the only woman to emerge from the French Nouvelle Vague cinema. She is considered a fundamental figure to whom pioneering techniques such as the use of non-actors and shooting on location are attributed, like in her self-financed debut feature, "La Pointe Courte", which marked the beginning of her career at the early age of 26. A multiple award winner, Varda directed 21 feature films and is known for her political and feminist perspective, exemplified in films such as "Cléo de 5 à 7", "Le Bonheur" and "Vagabond". Her work spans a wide range of genres, including documentaries and short films alongside her usually dramatic features, always opting for playful experimentation and injecting a marked sense of her subjectivity. Varda remains a symbol of feminist empowerment, as an icon who has used her art to defend women's rights and challenge patriarchal norms. Her legacy as a free-spirited artist endures, leaving an indelible mark on cinema and inspiring with her bold creativity and unwavering commitment to social and political change.