Positif, a French film monthly founded in Lyon in 1952 by Bernard Chardère, is celebrating its golden anniversary and 500th issue. In the magazine’s ardor for the new filmmakers it champions, the maverick intelligence that informs its ideas about the work of these artists, and the poetic, surprising, and illuminating writing itself, Positif both sustains and nourishes the culture of cinema.
The Department of Film and Media presents a 50-film exhibition of works championed by Positif when first released in France. The films selected reflect the essays in an accompanying book, Positif 50 Years: Selected Writings from the French Film Journal, coedited by Michel Ciment and Laurence Kardish, and published by The Museum of Modern Art.
Organized by Michel Ciment, veteran Positif editor, celebrated author, and noted film critic, and Laurence Kardish, Senior Curator, Department of Film and Media.
The Museum of Modern Art thanks the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Unifrance Film, and agnès b. for helping make this exhibition possible; and Miramax, Sony Pictures Classics, New Yorker Films, and Wellspring Media for their generous loan of prints.
