IMDb RATING
7.5/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
A documentary about the everyday lives of ordinary Parisians, done in the style of cinéma vérité.A documentary about the everyday lives of ordinary Parisians, done in the style of cinéma vérité.A documentary about the everyday lives of ordinary Parisians, done in the style of cinéma vérité.
- Awards
- 1 win
Nadine Ballot
- Self
- (as Nadine)
Régis Debray
- Self
- (as Régis)
Marceline Loridan Ivens
- Self
- (as Marceline)
Marilù Parolini
- Self
- (as Mary-Lou)
Jean-Pierre Sergent
- Self
- (as Jean-Pierre)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 6th greatest documentary of all time according to the 'Sight & Sound' poll 2014. The list was compiled after polling from over 200 critics and curators and 100 filmmakers.
- Quotes
Sophie - the cover-girl: People are bored everywhere now. But boredom comes from within. If you've got an inner life, you're never bored.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Les échos du cinéma: Episode #1.23 (1961)
Featured review
One of the greatest doucmentaries ever made
Often cited as one of the greatest documentaries ever made Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin's "Chronicles of a Summer" takes a look at the lives of of ordinary Parisiennes over the course of the summer of 1960. It was filmed in a 'cinema vertie' style, using the people who appear as if they were actors 'acting out' their lives. There is no voice-over; their technique is to use interviews or simply silently film these people going about their business. What distinguishes this extraordinary film from others of its kind is that this is a work both sociological and deeply political, a piece of social history in which Africans are side-lined and homosexuality never mentioned.
Rouch and Morin pick and choose their subjects, mostly workers, students and intellectuals, and back them into a corner where the politics of the proletariat becomes the benchmark. These people talk fearlessly about their treatment by the State and the drugery of their daily routine with white Parisiennes oblivious to their inherent racism.
The film-makers fundamental question is, 'Are you happy?' Initially two women interview people on the street asking them if they are happy and as the film progresses this becomes its focal point while the level of intimacy Rouch and Morin achieves is extraordinary. Theirs is a technique other film-makers have used many times since, perhaps more skillfully as film-making has become more sophisticated but this masterpiece remains the granddaddy of them all. Unmissable.
Rouch and Morin pick and choose their subjects, mostly workers, students and intellectuals, and back them into a corner where the politics of the proletariat becomes the benchmark. These people talk fearlessly about their treatment by the State and the drugery of their daily routine with white Parisiennes oblivious to their inherent racism.
The film-makers fundamental question is, 'Are you happy?' Initially two women interview people on the street asking them if they are happy and as the film progresses this becomes its focal point while the level of intimacy Rouch and Morin achieves is extraordinary. Theirs is a technique other film-makers have used many times since, perhaps more skillfully as film-making has become more sophisticated but this masterpiece remains the granddaddy of them all. Unmissable.
helpful•73
- MOscarbradley
- Aug 4, 2018
- How long is Chronicle of a Summer?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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