Arquivo

A chronicle of a filmic encounter between Ebrahim Golestan and Jean-Luc Godard, two major artists who, at least in the West, have not reached the same level of fame. Much time has passed since the 1960s, and the Iranian new wave has remained largely unknown, overshadowed by the fame of its European sibling. But is it too late to bring together two leading figures from these distant experiences? “We should start with a correspondence” says Godard, “maybe we will not correspond to one another. Ebrahim can send me a letter this Friday, and I’ll answer him next Friday. So, see you Friday, Robinson!” This is how the film unfolds, sometimes following a linear trajectory, more often taking side roads, punctuated by the disappointed hopes, the brilliant intuitions and the resistance that punctuate the confrontation between the two interlocutors. Jean-Luc Godard, avoiding the face-to-face confrontation, appears like a ghost every other Friday at Ebrahim Golestan’s house with his messages composed of obscure formulas and enigmatic image montages.

Winner of the Special Jury Award at the Encounters section of the Berlin Film Festival. Was also presented at CPH:DOX, Visions du Réel and FIDMarseille film festivals.