François Simon

  • Michel Soutter – Les nénuphars (1972)

    1971-1980DramaMichel SoutterPerformanceSwitzerland

    Synopsis:
    Arthur and Marcel, two firemen, keep boredom at bay by improvising on stage, one on a keyboard the other on drums, tunes, poems and songs. Carol arrives, in search of her lover Armand. Accompanied by the musicians, she sings of her strange loves and leaves. Then Armand turns up, in search of Carol, and the disturbing Cigare…Read More »

  • Claude Goretta – Le fou AKA The Madman (1970)

    1961-1970ArthouseClaude GorettaDramaSwitzerland

    Synopsis:
    ‘George takes care of his invalid wife and holds down a full-time job but is forced into retirement for health reasons. When an investment firm wipes out his life savings, George takes up a life of crime. He is soon driven to the brink of insanity over the unfortunate series of events that transpire.’ [Edited to correct inaccuracies.]
    – Dan PavlidesRead More »

  • Alain Tanner – Charles mort ou vif AKA Charles, Dead or Alive (1969)

    1961-1970Alain TannerArthouseDramaSwitzerland

    Quote:
    That the critics baptized the wave which emerged at this time as the “new Swiss cinema” simply reflects the fact that the “old” Swiss cinema was unknown to the cinema-going public. Today, the appeal and energy of this first film remain undiminished, magnified by the exceptional stature and presence of François Simon and the sublimely uncluttered camera work of Renato Berta. Tanner drew his subject matter from what he saw of the events of May ’68 in Paris, which he covered for Swiss television. Unimpressed by the ideological pronouncements of the young demonstrators (Tanner was nearly 40 and mistrustful of the siren songs of militancy), he was more struck by the elderly people marching alongside them.Read More »

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