by James Hewison

The gathering storm of dissent towards French President (General) Charles de Gaulle’s increasingly authoritarian government exploded in May 1968, in Paris particularly, as trade unions joined forces with the student movement and took to the streets. They were met with a brutal response by the police and especially the infamous, despised paramilitary police, the CRS who were suspected of being de Gaulle’s private enforcers.

The protestors failed in their bid to topple de Gaulle (who was re-elected just a few weeks later), however, there were extraordinary creative electrical storms that erupted across France as a consequence.

The inaugural “Paris May ’68 Revolt, The Struggle Continues” programme focuses on the creativity born of the May ’68 tumult; across films, French underground music and an exhibition of original posters from the barricades.

Opening the programme on 11 July is mercurial filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard’s [pictured in main image] notorious collaboration with the Rolling Stones as they were recording Beggars Banquet, the recently restored Sympathy for the Devil (AKA One + One). Almost immediately, Godard fell out with the producer – who wanted to make cuts and change the title of the film – and they tussled physically at the London premiere. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese observed, “Sympathy for the Devil: now that’s quintessential. That movie, with the vignettes that Godard intercuts with the rehearsal sessions…(a) still powerful and disturbing movie. It makes you rethink; it redefines your way of looking at life and reality and politics.”

Alongside the two screenings of Godard’s essential work will be 4 films from the “Zanzibar” collective, 3 of which have never screened publicly in Australia! This is a rare and unique opportunity to see these films, united by their “return to zero” approach to production and distribution. Known as the “Dandies of May ’68”, the work nevertheless had champions such as la Cinémathèque française’s founder Henri Langlois who selected a number for the first Directors’ Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival – which too was created as a response to the events of May 1968 and a reaction to Cannes’ perceived (or real!) conservatism.

The films were financed by hippie heiress Sylvina Boissonnas, who never asked to be involved in any of the productions directly and in the spirit of the movement went on to make a film herself with the same foundations of anti-structure. There may have been drugs involved… The Zanzibar collective’s work was very much in the shadow of the Nouvelle Vague, a slightly older generation and in particular Godard’s late ’60s Dziga Vertov films. In fact, the Zanzibar filmmakers were more akin to the spirit of New York’s downtown scene and Warhol’s The Factory where a number of them ended up in the late ’60s / early ’70s. From the collective, Philippe Garrel has continued to make films and is still very active today.

The Paris May ’68 Revolt > The Struggle Continues inaugural programme also features an exhibition of around 50 original posters from the barricades made by the militant graphic design and printing collective, l’Atelier Populaire – some of the original posters will be available for sale over the weekend. There will also be the launch of the new book Synths, Sax & Situationists, exploring the development and evolution of the French music underground and the launch of an accompanying vinyl LP compilation of that seminal free jazz / psych / prog experimentations.

This inaugural three-day event across 11 – 13 July focuses on the seismic civil unrest of May 1968 in France – especially Paris – and its immediate creative shockwaves and a lasting cultural impact internationally. The programme includes:

* an exhibition of rare original posters from the barricades (from l’Atelier Populaire)

* the launch of the new book Synths, Sax & Situationists, exploring the development of the French music underground

* the launch of an accompanying vinyl LP compilation of French underground music

* screenings of tyro Jean-Luc Godard’s seminal Sympathy for the Devil (AKA One Plus One) + a selection of rarely seen films from the Zanzibar group, the “dandies of May ’68”

* panel discussions

* The programme takes place at Wardlow II Moving Image Centre, 72 Webb St (via Lil Gore St), Fitzroy EXCEPT for 2 events > see schedule

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