I have been selecting documentaries that border on voyeuristic, but also more or less a social documentary. There were a few films that I selected that were using the medium to showcase an existential point like, Man with a Movie Camera or The Up Series, which look to capture life and transcend the genre of documentary. Today’s selection goes beyond the typical look at a social struggle or personal struggle, Sans Soleil is more of a film essay, positing about a fundamental question about life and how it is shaped by our memories, either effectively or altered by our recollection.
Titled after a song cycle by Mussorgsky, Sans Soleil is a 1982 nonlinear essay film by elusive documentary filmmaker Chris Marker. It’s a collage of images gathered from Japan, Africa, Iceland, San Francisco, and France — all presented without direct sound. The soundtrack consists of occasional spells of electronic music while an unseen woman’s voice (Alexandra Stewart) narrates letters written by a possibly fictional traveler in poetic verse. Beginning with the phrase “He wrote me,” each segment explores some philosophical inquiry of matters as broad as modern culture, technology, consciousness, Japanese television, and even the act of filming itself. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
A deeply philosophical film that plays out more as a memoir and reflection on the use of memories and shaping of our lives. Fascinating and deep, this is a big film to dive into, especially if you aren’t acclimated to film essay or a novice to documentary filmmaking. San Soleil uses a narrative structure that feels a bit disjointed, as you are watching stock footage and lingering pans over exotic locales and viewing those that inhabit the frame. The films strength comes from the introspective nature of the narrator, who is reading letters (fictionalized) from the camera man of the film. What is shown are his recording of life and what he interprets is taking place or what it means. When often times you will watch and listen to what is shown and said, but there is a bit of disconnect since it his memory of the subject.
The film makes a big point of discussing the nature of rewriting what we have experienced. Memory changes from setting to setting and we never really remember what little things of the settings, but the message stays the same. We can remember the story and setup, but it’s like remember how big that fish you really caught was in actuality Seeing the world through the eyes of a lens and hearing the thoughts of the traveler is engaging, as the letters the narrator reads place us in the right mindset.
Sans Soleil makes you think. It’s a daunting task to have you become an introspective viewer, but it’s the only way to truly embrace the film. Think of it like watching The Tree of Life, if you haven’t I suggest you do, which is more about the childhood memories and life lessons of the director. It’s a film that has you pondering about life’s little wonders, as complex as they may be, but the complexity of the questions is what makes you an engaged viewer. I will say that each viewer will get something different out of this film and that’s the point. Life is what you make of it and and everyone’s experiences are different as evidence of how we are raised, where we live, and how we interact with our surroundings. There is no universal understanding of one’s own life. What you experience and think is unique to you. Sans Soleil gives you the vehicle to think about these things and interpret the visuals as you see them, not what the traveler experiences.
Advertisement
