A Jacques Rivette feature was shown at Yokogawa Cinema on 17:30 November 24th. Jacques Rivette was a key person of Nouvelle Vague. He established the cinema magazine La Gazette du cinema, with Eric Rohme and Jean-Luc Godard in 1950 and had worked as a chief editor for 2 years since 1963. His maiden work was Paris nous appartient in 1960 and his most famous work was La Belle Noiseuse, which won the Grand Prix from judges in Cannes International Film Festival in 1991.
Films which were shown during this time were three experimental short silent films, which his wife Veronik Rivette began in their house in 2016. “At the four corners,” encourages the audience’s imagination by intriguing visual forms. In “The Quadrille,” nothing happens for 40 minutes, which gives a feeling of tension to actors. “Entertainment,” delights the audience with dynamic direction.
Almost all 70 seats were filled and everyone present applauded after the showing. There was a talk show with the Mr. Rivette’s wife, Veronik Rivette and a professor in Tokyo University of the Arts, Takehumi Tsutsui after the showing. Mr. Tsutsui appreciated her, “Thank you for finding these three phantom films.” Mrs. Rivette responded, “It’s I who should say thanks! Thank you for showing these films.” The talk show started with a harmonious atmosphere. One of the audience asked the question, “If Mr. Rivette was still alive, do you think he would allow the showing?” She answered, “When these films were founded in 2010, he didn’t say not to show them. I guess he didn’t think to throw them away.” To the question, “Which is the most favorite film of his works?”, she answered, “I don’t have a special one, because I can understand him through all his films.”
At the end, she concluded, “Now I’m making archives of his works. I have his memorandum from his childhood. I’m so happy to discover his new side. From now on, look forward.”