The Legacy of Agnes Varda: Pioneering the French New Wave and Empowering Feminist Filmmaking

Abstract

Agnes Varda is known as the “Mother of the French new wave.” She was a photographer and filmmaker whose work was centered around calling out world issues such as sexism. She deeply influenced the film industry with her unique works and those around her. Varda left behind a great legacy for her children when she passed away on March 29, 2019. She received the Palme d'honneur at the Cannes festival in France. This is due to her being recognized for having a global impact. Agnes Varda is notorious for creating films that represent the French new wave. This method of filmmaking changed the way we view films today. It allows for more of the artist’s expression. Her feature film Cleo From 5 to 7 highlights the major influences in her life which are calling out feminist issues. This film is in the eyes of the female gaze taken place in France in the 1960s. It is about a female singer who thinks she may have cancer and centers around her interactions with her peers and navigating the city as a woman. Agnes Varda co-produced a documentary called Faces Places. In this documentary they photographed images throughout the film. She went to different villages in France and filmed different landscapes. Her idea was to find people to take photos of, photograph them and paste their picture along buildings. These photographs were posted all over france. Agnes Varda pasted local miners that were responsible for helping build a part of France on their residential buildings. She wanted to celebrate them and their residents who have passed on by pasting their photos on the building.Varda also had an idea to bring a lifeless place back to life. She goes to an abandoned village and invites a crowd of people to take photos to...