Varda par Agnes [inscribed]

Paris: Editions Cahiers du Cinéma et Ciné- Tamaris, 1994. First and only edition. 8vo large (25x19cm), printed card wrappers with french flaps. 285pp. Text in French. Slight rubbing to bottom edge of wrappers. Inscribed by Agnès Varda. Near Fine.

Varda par Agnès was published in 1994 on the occasion of Agnès Varda‘s retrospective at the French Cinémathèque and is not to be confused with her last film of the same title, which was released in 2019.

Even though they are 25 years apart, both take the same approach – a look back at Varda‘s work, with Agnès Varda as the narrator. In the press release for the film Agnès Varda recounts:

“[…] I published a book entitled VARDA BY AGNÈS. 25 years later, the same title is given to my film made of moving images and words, with the same project: give keys about my body of work. I give my own keys, my thoughts, nothing pretentious, just keys.”

Varda par Agnès offers keys and it is almost impossible not to have the familiar voice of Agnès Varda in the head while reading her fantastic anecdotes accompanied by countless images. It‘s about writing, editing, documentaries and fiction. The book stretches from Varda’s first film La Pointe Courte to Les 100 et 1 Nuits, which was released shortly before the book was published. A unique insight into Varda’s life with an incredibly detailed filmography by Bernard Bastide.