Een Verhaal van de Wind

The Netherlands

Synopsis

In his very last movie, A TALE OF THE WIND, the virtuoso documentary filmmaker Joris Ivens takes stock of the seventy years he worked in film, creating a monument to himself in images of rare quality. The self-portrait conjures up faint images of Cocteau's LE TESTAMENT D'ORPHEE, and cannot easily be defined along the lines of conventional documentary filmmaking. Although it employs stylistic devices used in feature films, it never becomes one in any ordinary sense of the word. The wind – seen both subjectively and objectively – is the main methapher in the film: a meteorological phenomenon as well as the breath of historical change, creative power, and of course, life itself. In other words, A TALE OF THE WIND – the poetic testament of a filmmaker of great international renown – while indebted equally to both the documentary and to the feature film genres, was able to go beyond them to become its own unique work of art. The decisive role that Marceline Loridan has played must be stressed as well. As a true "documen-tarist" she contributed greatly toward creating Joris Ivens' last works. The jury is therefore honored to distinguish "A Tale of the Wind," Joris Ivens' last film and summa vitae suae, with a Special Award.

Director's Biography

Joris Ivens, born in Nijmegen in 1898, used a camera from his father's photo shop as early as 1911 to make a film: DE WIGWAM. Virtually all major revolutions in the 20th century were followed by Joris Ivens and his camera, which ensured repeated clashes with the authorities.

Marceline Loridan has worked with Joris Ivens since 1964 and was, for instance, co-director of the series HOW YUKONG MOVED THE MOUNTAINS.

Filmography:

1911 DE WIGWAM
1928 DE BRUG
1929 REGEN
1930 FILM NOTITIES UIT DE SOVJET-UNIE
1933 ZUIDERZEE
1933 BORINAGE
1937 SPAANSE AARDE
1938 DE 400 MILJOEN
1946 INDONESIA CALLING
1957 LA SEINE A RENCONTRÉ PARIS
1965 LE CIEL, LA TERRE
1966 ROTTERDAM - EUROPOORT
1967 LOIN DU VIETNAM
1969 LE PEUPLE ET LES FUSILS
1976 HOW YUKONG MOVED THE MOUNTAINS
1977 LES KAZAKS
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Marceline Loridan-lvens, Joris Ivens

Written by: Marceline Loridan-lvens, Joris Ivens, Elisabeth D.

Produced by: Marin Karmitz

Cinematography: Thierry Arbogast, Jacques Loiseleux

Editing: Geneviève Louveau

Original Score: Michel Portal

Nominations and Awards

  • Documentary Film Jury Special Award 1989