Le Fantôme d'Henri Langlois (Henri Langlois: The Phantom of the Cinematheque) (2004)
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92% of critics liked it
(13 reviews) -
80% of users liked it
(414 ratings)
Henri Langlois was, in many respects, the ultimate film fan. In 1936, at the age of 22, Langlois became (along with Jean Mitry and Georges Franju) one of the founders of the Cinémathèque Française, a theater and museum devoted to preserving the history of the motion picture. Initially a tiny… More Henri Langlois was, in many respects, the ultimate film fan. In 1936, at the age of 22, Langlois became (along with Jean Mitry and Georges Franju) one of the founders of the Cinémathèque Française, a theater and museum devoted to preserving the history of the motion picture. Initially a tiny operation financed by private funds, the Cinémathèque, with time, grew into Europe's most important film archive, collecting and preserving prints of rare films from all over the world and protecting many rare gems of the French cinema from destruction during the Nazi occupation of World War II. Langlois' enthusiasm for sharing the treasures of his collection with others helped spawn a film-crazy generation who created the French New Wave of the '50s, and in time, the French government acknowledged the importance of the Cinémathèque's work by financing their endeavors. In 1968, the French minister of culture, André Malraux, responded to Langlois' difficult personality and sloppy bookkeeping by pulling the government's financing of his projects, which led to an international outcry leading to the shutdown of the Cannes Film Festival by activists and film buffs. The Cinémathèque's funding and Langlois' leadership were later restored, and in 1973, his work in film preservation was honored with a special Academy Award. Henri Langlois: The Phantom of the Cinémathèque is a documentary which chronicles the life, times, and passions of the legendary archivist and includes interviews with his friends, contemporaries, and colleagues -- including Claude Berri, Claude Chabrol, Jack Valenti, and Daniel Cohn-Bendit. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- Unrated, 3 hr. 32 min.
- Directed By
- Jacques Richard
- Written By
- Jacques Richard
- Genres
- Documentary, Television, Art House & International, Special Interest
- In Theaters
- Sep 9, 2004 Wide
- On DVD
- Aug 15, 2006
Critic Reviews
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Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
An inspirational film for cinephiles everywhere.
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Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
The tale of this rotund man, with his unquenchable passion and ark-load of supporters is, to a great extent, the history of the cinema itself.
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John Anderson, Newsday
Anyone with a curiosity about how film got to be the art form/obsession it is today will want to learn about the man who helped make it so.
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Lou Lumenick, New York Post
This documentary's director, Jacques Richard, includes insightful and often hilarious archival interviews with Langlois and dozens of associates.
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A.O. Scott, New York Times
Jacques Richard's affectionate documentary makes a persuasive case for Henri Langlois as one of the most important figures in the history of film.
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