Claire Denis’s Closet Picks

The great French director (BEAU TRAVAIL, LET THE SUNSHINE IN) paid a visit to our closet this spring and talked about a handful of favorites:

- Carl Theodor Dreyer Box Set
- TOUT VA BIEN
- GATE OF FLESH
- HIS GIRL FRIDAY
- SUMMER WITH MONIKA

Shop Claire's Closet Picks:

[joerogan]

*THE ENDING OF BEAU TRAVAIL IS THE GREATEST THING I EVER SEEN IM NOT JOKING*

[danopticon]

That note of melancholy on which she ends her visit… she’s a poet through-and-through! Who knew a five-minute video could bring me to wistful tears? :’-) Well done, Ms. Denis!

[PentameronSV]

0:17 - *CARL THEODOR DREYER BOX SET* [Collector's Set] _dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer_
*DAY OF WRATH* (1943)
*ORDET* (1955)
*GERTRUD* (1964)
*CARL TH. DREYER—MY METIER* (1995)
1:09 - *TOUR VA BIEN* _dir. Jean-Luc Godard and Jean-Pierre Gorin_ (1972)
1:29 - *GATE OF FLESH* _dir. Seijun Suzuki_ (1964)
2:06 - *HIS GIRL FRIDAY* _dir. Howard Hawks_ (1940)
2:37 - *SUMMER WITH MONIKA* _dir. Ingmar Bergman_ (1953)

[davidmcdonnell]

Carl Th. Dreyer Box Set
Tout va bien - Jean Luc Goddard and Jean-Pierre Gorin
Gate of Flesh - Seijun Suzuki
His Girl Friday - Howard Hawks
Summer with Monika - Ingmar Bergman
(Something Wild - Jonathan Demme)

[ValentinaHueck]

I could watch her talk about movies all day. I’m always in awe when greats are humbled by the works of others. Only making them even more great.

[axel]

Hearing her talk about Howard Hawks's effect on her is fascinating and adorable.

[eshowoman]

She picked movies that influenced her as film student under the directors that came out of Cahier du Cinema, not necessarily the movies the influenced her works. Those films made her melancholy for what is now past forever. An amazing moment.

[alexanderclaylavin]

At the NYFF showing of White Material the screening kept getting delayed because the fire alarm went off multiple times, they had no clue why, and everybody was completely frustrated. Then finally they got a lid on it, and Claire Denis comes onto the stage, and says, "I'm sorry for the trouble but I just wanted to see a real New York firefighter."

[sh]

The biggest thing I miss / regret in my life is not learning French language. Sounds so beautiful and natural.

[gavinhenderson]

Love her! She seems so extremely well mannered too.

[liambrannelly]

It is such a pleasure to just be in the PRESENCE of this woman; and to listen to her thoughts about cinema is a treat! I wish I could spend an afternoon with her, sipping white wine and just talking about our favorite film classics, :)

[DaichiS]

One of the best directors alive. Can’t wait for High Life, and hoping to see more of her films given a Criterion treatment.

[MikeysMovies]

"May I put it in the bag?"
"No."

[sevsabril]

She was like: OH, Magnificent, Beautiful, Dreamy, Splendid, What a momemtum, Yes, [Constant breathing].

A LIVING GENIUS!

[swanstep]

It's sweet that Denis is still in awe of Hawks. It all makes sense now: Rivette + Dreyer + Godard + Hawks = Trouble Every Day followed immediately by Friday Night.

[jonathanhopper]

I always feel good about myself when someone I admire like Claire Denis speaks of certain films the way I do. There's that helpless feeling while viewing Summer with Monika of losing one's youth and I'll never forget the feeling after seeing Ordet. I can only explain it as awe. I should add, I've only seen Beau Travail once and declared it a perfect film (as I did with Ordet).

[ablazedark]

she deserves much more recognition. beau travail and l'intrus are very very good and unique movies.

[kareembaholzer]

Thank you so much for getting her on-board, my entire life has been leading up to this moment omg

[harrygoodwin]

her pronunciation of howard hawks is wonderful aha

[cristoburn]

This is amazing, to hear her talk about these films and filmmakers is beautiful. Such an incredible woman, I love her so much.