Derrida (2002)

82% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(932 ratings)

Jacques Derrida is a French author and philosopher who is regarded as one of the world's leading exponents of deconstructionism, a school of thought which argues (among many other things) that "truth" is not an absolute, and must be viewed within the context of the mindset of the person expressing… More Jacques Derrida is a French author and philosopher who is regarded as one of the world's leading exponents of deconstructionism, a school of thought which argues (among many other things) that "truth" is not an absolute, and must be viewed within the context of the mindset of the person expressing it and the frameworks within which the idea has been related. Appropriately enough, Derrida, a documentary about the man's life and work, offers its subject many opportunities to present his ideas directly to the camera, and even allows him to deconstruct himself as he offers commentary while watching one of his interviews on a video monitor -- and later, analyzes his own deconstructive analysis. Derrida was directed by Kirby Dick, who previously won acclaim for a film about another highly individual thinker, "supermasochist" Bob Flanagan in Sick. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering Kofman
Genres: Documentary, Faith & Spirituality, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Oct 23, 2002 Limited
On DVD: Jan 20, 2004
Studio: Zeitgeist Films

Critic Reviews

Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
I'm not sure you'll leave the movie understanding every nuance of 'deconstruction,' but you'll have a real sense of a sophisticated thinker.
Vic Vogler, Denver Post
Exhibits a devotion to its subject that just might drive you to his books and make you wish for tea with the man who wrote them.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Derrida, with his mane of white hair, piercing gaze and pipe clenched between his teeth, may be the most watchable thinker since Rodin's.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
The picture's charm lies in the continuing by-play between the filmmakers and their subject, with each side doing its best to deconstruct the other.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
Dense and thoughtful and brimming with ideas that are too complex to be rapidly absorbed.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Is it possible for a documentary to be utterly entranced by its subject and still show virtually no understanding of it?
Gil Jawetz, DVDTalk.com
Derrida gleefully states "No. I'm only going to tell you superficial things." At that point the cameras should have been packed up and the crew sent home.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
If you have any doubts about the film, just ask yourself how many other films have you seen about a renown modern philosopher.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Along the way, we absorb bits and pieces of Derrida's ideas, but the total is insufficient for the newcomer to come away with any focused understanding of Derrida and only seems to fuel the dangerous cult of hero worship.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
Derrida turns out to be an engaging, provocative and droll fellow before the cameras.
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
We are left with a superficial snapshot that, however engaging, is insufficiently enlightening and inviting.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
At the very least, if you don't know anything about Derrida when you walk into the theater, you won't know much more when you leave.
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
The film is an intriguingly superficial view of a famously deep man.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Whether or not you're enlightened by any of Derrida's lectures on "the other" and "the self," Derrida is an undeniably fascinating and playful fellow.

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Lanning :

To say that Derrida has had a deep-seated, almost insidious impact on my life is no joke. He's always lurking in the back of my mind, a kind of undercover commentator, peeping out of my subconscious from beneath a grayish colored canvas tarp, waiting to pop up and insert a… More
To say that Derrida has had a deep-seated, almost insidious impact on my life is no joke. He's always lurking in the back of my mind, a kind of undercover commentator, peeping out of my subconscious from beneath a grayish colored canvas tarp, waiting to pop up and insert a comment or two in any given situation. <p> He's like a general contractor overseeing the construction project of my house-life, with me up on the scaffold, counting on him to steady it while I build to higher heights. I look down suddenly, and wouldn't you know it: Instead of supporting the scaffold, he's lighting his pipe. I notice nothing but the dark bowl of that pipe. Vertigo sets in. The bowl expands before me, a black and bottomless pit. Is this the abyss. The scaffold rumbles and begins to shake apart. Derrida puffs thoughtfully at his pipe. I fall headlong into blackness . . . Nah, just kidding. <p> Jacques Derrida was cutting-edge influential back when I was in school, and he continues to be taught widely in college classes right now. And it's not just philosophy courses, either. Walk into a college bookstore and stroll the aisles. You can see him being taught in English, history, political science, education classes -- and on and on. An amazing man and an interesting portrait. His comments on biography/autobiography will be with me for a while. <p> At times, the personality that comes across in this film reminds me of the personality displayed by Bob Dylan when he was constantly being hounded to "explain" himself, early on in his career. His take on "forgiveness" tied my brain in knots. But that's Derrida. He's one of the great contemporary game players, one of the best tie-your-brain-in-knots thinkers worth the torture of grappling with. <p> Note: If you dig into Derrida, remember that he evolves, just like Dylan. He was no spring chicken, either, when he passed away, so like Bob, he'd been evolving for many years.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Derrida" is a documentary about the noted philosopher and deconstructionist, Jacques Derrida. The film follows Derrida in his daily life at home in Paris and at work lecturing, and also to New York City and South Africa to appear on panels. During… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Derrida" is a documentary about the noted philosopher and deconstructionist, Jacques Derrida. The film follows Derrida in his daily life at home in Paris and at work lecturing, and also to New York City and South Africa to appear on panels. During which, he is constantly commenting on the artificiality of the whole situation of the documentarians trying to capture him looking as natural as possible.(I imagine all documentaries have footage like this but it almost always ends up on the cutting room floor.) This gives some insight into Derrida's thinking, along with readings from some of his works. But it would have been nice to have some talking heads testifying about his influence within his chosen field.[/font]

Cast

Jacques Derrida
as Himself

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Derrida (2002)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Lanning :

Walter M

Cast

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