Google Doodle celebrates New Wave pioneer Agnès Varda
By TOI Desk Report
December 14, 2023
Update on : December 16, 2023
Google Doodle, a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages, celebrates Belgian-born French photographer, director, and artist Agnès Varda on December 13.
Agnès Varda, the influential filmmaker, is widely considered a pioneer of French New Wave movies.
The celebration of the legacy of the French film director and screenwriter came as the European Film Academy presented her with an honorary Lifetime Achievement Award for her work on this day in 2014.
Born in Brussels on May 30, 1928, Varda along with the family moved to Sète, France when she was 12. Prior to starting her career as a photographer for magazines and the Théâtre National Populaire, she studied art history and photography.
Varda was inspired by some of her photographs to make cinematic works, including her first film in 1955, La Pointe Courte. The film balanced fiction with documentary-style discussions. She continued to make films.
As the director had not studied filmmaking, she had freedom from industry standards. It allowed her to break norms and help usher in the French New Wave. The rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions characterized the New Wave movement in favor of experimentation. Varda was among the few female New Wave directors.
She directed over 40 films in her vast cinematic career. The films include shorts, features, and documentaries about the complexities of humans. Cleo from 5 to 7, Vagabond and The Gleaners and I are among her notable works.
Varda, a self-described feminist, featured women’s stories in many films.
As a “feminist musical, the filmmaker advocated for women’s choice in the 1977 movie L’Une chante, l’autre pas.
As Varda started video installations in 2003, she continued her creative endeavours in new formats.
Her installations have been displayed globally such as Ghent, New York, Beijing, and Paris.
Varda’s career can be valued through films, photographs, artworks, and books.
Besides, Varda earned several awards.
Lumières Award and an Oscar nomination for Visages Villages, a César Award for Les Plages d’Agnès, a Golden Lion for Sans toit ni loi, an Honorary Oscar for her lifetime achievements in cinema are among the awards.
Agnès Varda paved her route by creating her movies. Embodying the true spirit of artistic independence, creative resilience, and her unique perspective will inspire artists for years.
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