Jean-Marie Straub

by Richard Roud

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Arta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid introductory book to S-H. Roud’s approach here is a very grounded and unambitious one, which I actually really appreciate. He mostly resorts to really clarifying the story and events of each film, certain relevant facts of the production history, providing valuable quotes from Straub himself, as well as limited observations on stylistic elements of the films, that fall short of being real analysis, but could spark an analytical inquiry in a curious reader.

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Roud, my favorite film critical writer from the late 60's and early 70's tackles one of the more obscure French new wave filmmakers Jean-Marie Straub, who made movies that were so slow only film historians, film theorists, and handsome film teachers admired the work. I once showed one of Straub's films in my ciné-club, and only three people showed up. Of course all of them were hardcore film lunatics who pretty much loathe anything made in Hollywood (except Hitchcock & Hawks - and once in awhile Jerry Lewis), so I was pretty cool in that circle (of three).

Nevertheless I truly love Straub's work and this is probably the only book in English about this great filmmaker. To this day I don't think any of his work is out on DVD. How cool is that!

[Samantha]

fascinating early (if not the first) book on the work of Straub and Huillet. Only titled after Straub as their first few works on credit him as director, before a broader understanding of their work as complete collaborators in filmmaking (and also a bit of casual sexism). So early that it doesn’t even remark on Bridegroom featuring Fassbinder’s theater troupe! Still Roud’s words on the films are incredibly cogent and give a lot of technical insight into the rhythm of their films. Wish I had this when I wrote a paper in college lol.

[Tom Newth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roud was one of the very best writers on cinema. Straub's one of the most difficult film-makers. Even if only covering up to Othon, this is indispensable.