Ava DuVernay, Chloë Sevigny Talk Female Gaze, Agnes Varda and Claire Denis at Miu Miu’s Tales & Tellers Opening for Art Basel Paris

As a film enthusiast and a connoisseur of cinema, I have had the privilege of witnessing some truly remarkable individuals in the industry. However, few have left as lasting an impression as Chloë Sevigny. Her unique blend of talent, charisma, and humility is truly inspiring.


Ava DuVernay, Chloë Sevigny, Cailee Spaeny, and Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch were among the notable figures who attended the elegant preview event for Miu Miu’s first-ever Tales & Tellers spotlight, which took place at the Palais d’Iéna during Art Basel Paris on Tuesday.

From October 16th to 20th during Art Basel Paris, the showcase will feature over 20 short films from the Miu Miu Women’s Tales series. The presentation will be enriched with custom installations and live performances by actresses and models embodying characters from each film.

The upcoming exhibition, put together by Goshka Macuga and Elvira Dyangani Ose, showcases short films produced for Miu Miu by various directors such as DuVernay, Sevigny, Zoe R. Cassavetes (“Broken English”), Lila Avilés (“Tótem”), Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović (“Murina”), Crystal Moselle (“Skate Kitchen”), Carla Simón (“Alcarràs”), Catherine Martin (“Elvis”), Haifaa Al-Mansour (“Wadjda”) and Isabel Sandoval (“Lingua Franca”). These filmmakers attended a two-day event to discuss themes related to femininity, vanity, and the female perspective.

Ava DuVernay, Chloë Sevigny Talk Female Gaze, Agnes Varda and Claire Denis at Miu Miu’s Tales & Tellers Opening for Art Basel Paris

Haifaa Al-Mansour finds it inspiring to be surrounded by other female filmmakers in an event like this, she shares with EbMaster. It creates a bond between us, a feeling of solidarity, and boosts our strength collectively.

Since 2011, this biannual anthology provides female directors with a free rein to realize their creative ideas. Each year, both established directors like Lucrecia Martel and Lynne Ramsay, as well as new talents straight from the festival circuit, receive annual commissions. Notably, the backing by Miu Miu has frequently propelled these emerging talents forward in their careers, as one early recipient explains.

After securing the title of Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival, Ava DuVernay found herself without any job offers coming her way in Hollywood. One of the rare opportunities that came her way was from Miu Miu, a brand she had never heard of before. She took this chance to familiarize herself with the company, meet Miuccia Prada, collaborate with Verde Visconti, and was granted the freedom to create any story I desired with a provided budget.

In my initial encounter, I found myself captivated by their benevolence and elegance – a connection that has been a pleasure to maintain ever since.” (Movie reviewer speaking about the studio or production company they first worked with)

“Janicza Bravo, director of ‘Zola’, mentions that she feels integrated like part of a family, having been graciously accepted.

Ava DuVernay, Chloë Sevigny Talk Female Gaze, Agnes Varda and Claire Denis at Miu Miu’s Tales & Tellers Opening for Art Basel Paris

At the initial event, the spotlight was on the filmmakers showcasing their work, yet these very filmmakers chose to acknowledge those who inspired their careers. The audience took this opportunity to express admiration towards pioneers in the field, such as Ann Hui, Chantal Akerman, Yasmin Ahmad, Lucrecia Martel, and Jane Campion.

Following the wrap of Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt,” Chloë Sevigny lavished praise on Julia Roberts, the film’s leading actress, describing her as “one of the most remarkable individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure to work alongside in the film industry.” Sevigny also expressed a strong desire to collaborate with a particular friend at some point.

According to Sevigny, Claire Denis has consistently been warm-hearted and generous. One instance that stands out was during a time when Sevigny was in Cannes with a film causing quite a stir. At the Palais steps, Denis comforted her by holding her hand and giving her a rose to help calm her nerves. For this kindness and of course, for introducing her to the beauty of her films, Sevigny will always be grateful.

Among the many filmmakers I admire, none have cast such an imposing shadow as Agnès Varda. In 2015, her work on Women’s Tales left an indelible mark on me, continuing to inspire me both personally and professionally.

According to director Carla Simon, Varda was an exceptional artist. She referred to Varda as the ‘protective spirit’ of the event. Varda is incredibly inspiring not just for her movies, but also for her unique approach towards art and filmmaking. Director Simon believes that Varda’s presence can still be felt.

Director So Yong Kim (“Lovesong”) expresses her fandom, stating, “She’s absolutely my idol!” She encountered her in Los Angeles during the Indie Spirit Awards, and pursued her with enthusiasm, exclaiming, “You’re my hero!” Unfortunately, she didn’t understand English. Instead, she replied politely, “Pardon me, I need to use the restroom,” before quickly departing. However, that brief encounter left a lasting impression on me!

Ava DuVernay, Chloë Sevigny Talk Female Gaze, Agnes Varda and Claire Denis at Miu Miu’s Tales & Tellers Opening for Art Basel Paris

Each participant offers a distinctively individual and unique interpretation of the female perspective, despite being influenced by common sources of inspiration.

Massy Tadjedin points out that the female perspective is inherently subjective. It often delves into underlying meanings and truths, focusing on the nuances and subtleties that might not be immediately apparent.

As a dedicated cinephile, I echo Tan Chui Mui’s sentiment. In crafting our characters and their worlds, we nurture a tender compassion. We empathize deeply with our subjects, feeling their joys, sorrows, and everything in between. Our goal isn’t to inflict pain upon our characters for the sake of it; instead, we strive for a connection, a bond that resonates with viewers. We feel for them, understand them, and in doing so, we hope to evoke similar emotions within our audience.

As a film critic, I found Crystal Moselle’s perspective on capturing authentic female energy particularly insightful: “To truly let that feminine essence shine, it’s all about honesty, authenticity, and baring your soul,” she said. In other words, it’s about diving headfirst into the emotional depths of characters to portray them in a way that resonates deeply with viewers.

At the initial unveiling event, the filmmakers found the experience profoundly moving, even bizarre at times, as they saw their characters come alive, seemingly escaping from the screen and strolling through a grand Art Deco building made of concrete. The characters moved among the gathering, standing out with their vibrant, eye-catching costumes amidst a stylish crowd predominantly dressed in muted tones, reflecting Parisian chic.

The show takes place like an interactive play, where reality and imagination intertwine as visitors move among spontaneous music concerts and comedy acts. Notably, some audience members are actually actors in costume, blending seamlessly into the crowd and maintaining their roles throughout.

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović shares, “Earlier, I was deeply touched when all the actors portraying characters from the movies came together to dance. It brought tears to my eyes, even ruining my makeup for the entire day! Yet, it created such a powerful feeling of camaraderie, and somehow felt incredibly authentic.

Ava DuVernay, Chloë Sevigny Talk Female Gaze, Agnes Varda and Claire Denis at Miu Miu’s Tales & Tellers Opening for Art Basel Paris

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2024-10-18 14:47