Christian Philibert

Born and died in Pourrières in the Var, Germain Nouveau forms with his friends, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, the most remarkable trio of French poetry. Bohemian and vagabond, half saint, half madman, haunted by death and love, he opposed the publication of his collections (La Doctrine de l'Amour, Valentines) which were only published posthumously or against his will. Celebrated by the surrealists (Breton, Aragon), he remains unknown to the general public. Recent research shows that he is the real author of a part of the texts gathered under the title Illuminations. Conceived as a historical, literary and philological investigation, Christian Philibert's film, shot over a period of 25 years, relates the life of Germain Nouveau and the research of the main specialists. Supported by numerous excerpts of texts and illustrated by an abundant iconography, it reveals the itinerary of this extraordinary artist and offers him his rightful place in the history of poetry.

Born and died in Pourrières in the Var, Germain Nouveau forms with his friends, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, the most remarkable trio of French poetry. Bohemian and vagabond, half saint, half madman, haunted by death and love, he opposed the publication of his collections (La Doctrine de l'Amour, Valentines) which were only published posthumously or against his will. Celebrated by the surrealists (Breton, Aragon), he remains unknown to the general public. Recent research shows that he is the real author of a part of the texts gathered under the title Illuminations. Conceived as a historical, literary and philological investigation, Christian Philibert's film, shot over a period of 25 years, relates the life of Germain Nouveau and the research of the main specialists. Supported by numerous excerpts of texts and illustrated by an abundant iconography, it reveals the itinerary of this extraordinary artist and offers him his rightful place in the history of poetry.

Vowing to get back on the right track, a petty delinquent gets a real job, but quickly discovers that his new employers are not very scrupulous.

Filmmaker Christian Philibert takes a tongue-in-cheek look at his old hometown in this mock-documentary about a small French community and the people who live there. In Les 4 Saisons d'Espigoule, Philibert returns to the town where he grew up (and left when he was 25) to film the residents for a year. In addition to capturing Espigoule's annual Goat Rodeo and New Year's Eve costumes, the audience gets an inside look at the backbone of the local economy (sheep herding) and a night of big excitement (a bingo match). We also meet a few of the locals, who show off their talents (painting, classical piano, imitating Liza Minnelli). While scripted in advance by Philibert, the film was indeed shot in his hometown, and the "actors" playing the citizens of Espigoule actually do live there.

Filmmaker Christian Philibert takes a tongue-in-cheek look at his old hometown in this mock-documentary about a small French community and the people who live there. In Les 4 Saisons d'Espigoule, Philibert returns to the town where he grew up (and left when he was 25) to film the residents for a year. In addition to capturing Espigoule's annual Goat Rodeo and New Year's Eve costumes, the audience gets an inside look at the backbone of the local economy (sheep herding) and a night of big excitement (a bingo match). We also meet a few of the locals, who show off their talents (painting, classical piano, imitating Liza Minnelli). While scripted in advance by Philibert, the film was indeed shot in his hometown, and the "actors" playing the citizens of Espigoule actually do live there.

Filmmaker Christian Philibert takes a tongue-in-cheek look at his old hometown in this mock-documentary about a small French community and the people who live there. In Les 4 Saisons d'Espigoule, Philibert returns to the town where he grew up (and left when he was 25) to film the residents for a year. In addition to capturing Espigoule's annual Goat Rodeo and New Year's Eve costumes, the audience gets an inside look at the backbone of the local economy (sheep herding) and a night of big excitement (a bingo match). We also meet a few of the locals, who show off their talents (painting, classical piano, imitating Liza Minnelli). While scripted in advance by Philibert, the film was indeed shot in his hometown, and the "actors" playing the citizens of Espigoule actually do live there.