【speaker】

Gianluca Pulsoni (Cornell University, Film analyst）

 

【abstract】

In this lecture, my intent is that of proposing a reading of Chris Marker's film, A.K. (1985), which depicts the shooting of Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, Ran (1985), by analyzing the idea of portrait Marker's work conveys. There will be two layers of meaning into play.

Firstly, I will propose an introduction about the French filmmaker's relationship with Japan to provide the cultural context of his view on the Japanese movie.Secondly, my attention will go to the aesthetics embedded within the project, in connection with Deleuze's film theory and the general lack of specific scholarly literature about the cinematic portraiture. Here, I will suggest looking at Marker's use of some film essay's codes as a way to highlight his attempt to turn the ‘depiction’ of Ran's set into a narrative around some kanji, in which the initial letters of the Japanese master seem to form that impossible kanji which may hold and evoke all the others.

I will entirely base my discourse on slides. Some of them will showcase notes, pictures, and short clips from Marker's works.