Watch Cinevardaphoto

Cinevardaphoto is a French documentary film directed by Agnès Varda, released in 2004. The film is divided into three parts, each of which explores the art of photography and its impact on culture and society. The first part, Ydessa, the Bears and etc., is set in a gallery in Toronto, where an exhibition of photographs featuring teddy bears is on display. Varda explores the meaning behind the exhibition, which showcases the relationship between humans and their objects of affection. The exhibits include photographs dating from the 1850s to the present day, and Varda interviews the curator Ydessa Hendeles about her motivations for putting on the exhibit.

The second part, Ulysse, explores Varda's fascination with still photography and the art of capturing a moment in time. Varda analyzes the way she perceives photographs and how that has changed over time. She delves into the question of whether photographs are intended to be truthful or whether they are manipulated to convey a certain message. She specifically examines the work of her fellow photographer and friend, Henri Cartier-Bresson, to illustrate her analysis.

The final part of the film, Salut les cubains, explores the relationship between photography and politics. Varda takes a deep dive into the role of Cubans in the 1960s revolution, with an emphasis on Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. The entire country was called upon to participate in this revolution, and Varda takes special notice of how the photographic process was used to portray and propel the revolution forward. The footage is from Varda's own archives, portraying dancing, singing, marching, and people in procession. Interspersed by the archival footage is more modern-day footage of Varda visiting Cuba years after the revolution, juxtaposing the societal changes in the country since her first visit with her memories of the revolution.

Overall, Cinevardaphoto is a thought-provoking documentary that challenges the viewer's understanding of photography and how it can convey societal themes, political messages, as well as the individual's relationship to objects and memories. By examining different photographic works in relation to well-known cultural touchstones, Varda presents an entirely new way of interpreting these works which result in the viewer having a completely new understanding of the medium.