Centenary of Jean Vigo
April 29–30, 2005

To mark the centenary of the birth of Jean Vigo (1905–1934), the Museum presents the auteur’s complete works—A propos de Nice (1930), Taris, roi de l’eau (1931), Zéro de conduite (1933), and L’Atalante (1934)—over the course of a single day. Although Vigo made only four films before his untimely death at age twenty-nine, all of them are masterpieces informed by his social engagement and unerring artistic flair and ambition. This celebration of Vigo’s independent spirit is also the occasion to announce a MoMA exhibition in 2006 of selected winners of the prestigious Prix Jean Vigo, awarded annually since 1951 by a jury of French film professionals headed by the filmmaker’s daughter, Luce Vigo.

Organized by Jytte Jensen, Curator, Department of Film and Media, and Véronique Godard, independent consultant, Paris. Prints courtesy Cinémathèque Gaumont and the Cinémathèque Française. Thanks to the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, New York.

L’Atalante. 1934. France. Directed by Jean Vigo. Adaptation and dialogue by Vigo, Albert Riéra, based on a screenplay by Jean Guinée. With Dita Parlo, Michel Simon, Jean Dasté. Concerned with characters marginalized by society, Vigo’s poetic yet realistic film locates the stable, loving life Juliette is looking for in Jean and his boat, but still permits the very human temptations of the big city. French intertitles, simultaneous English translation. 89 min.

L’Atalante (unedited rushes). 20 min.

Taris, roi de l’eau. 1931. France. Directed by Jean Vigo. This technically complex work made with the champion swimmer Jean Taris emphasizes body movement and was called an “aquatic ballet” by Vigo’s contemporary, Jean Cocteau. 9 min. Program 118 min.
Friday, April 29, 6:00 (introduced by Luce Vigo). T1; Saturday, April 30, 5:00. T2

A propos de Nice, point de vue documente. 1930. France. Directed by Jean Vigo, Boris Kaufman. This chronicle of Nice at carnival time takes a candid look at societal divisions between the rich who relax on the beach and the poor who are not afforded any leisure time. A vividly imaginative attempt at capturing the variety and style of life in southern France through a rapid montage of silent images. 23 min.

Zéro de conduite. 1933. France. Written and directed by Jean Vigo. With Jean Dasté, Robert Le Flon. This beautiful film, full of vivid character and humor, depicts in a marvelous visual language life at a boarding school where the boys are always up for pranks and have plans for a real rebellion. Vigo’s anarchic style of filmmaking and approach to his subject provoked a scandal at the film’s premiere, and it was subsequently banned. In French, English subtitles. 41 min.
Friday, April 29, 8:30 (introduced by Luce Vigo). T1; Saturday, April 30, 3:00. T2

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