Mathieu Amalric is possibly the most distinctive French actor of his generation known also for his directing projects, although less widely, even though he was awarded the directing prize in Cannes. For his film Barbara he got the prestigious Prix Jean Vigo that is aimed at independent artists with original vision. The jury appreciated his approaches and saw him as a “brave and distinctive author who’s work shouldn’t be overshadowed by his acting career, since his experimental work is made by someone who likes to take risks and reinvent himself with each film he makes”.
The film Barbara tells a story of both the famous French singer Barbara and the actor Brigitte, who is preparing to portray Barbara in the film itself. Brigitte studies her voice, her songs, imitates her gestures and slowly becomes her. The lives of both women are intertwined in the same way as the documentary and fictional part of the film are, the archival footage of Barbara mixes with staged performances filmed with the actress of Brigitte. Amalric freed himself from the conventional biopic approaches and made a poetic film about art, life and inspiration that asks the question: How can we show the life of a truly living human being in art? The screening is a part of the new series film x art that brings films on art and artist to KINO INAK in A4 regularly.