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I try hard to give rhythm to the changes of pace in a film…

“I try hard to give rhythm to the changes of pace in a film so that the directing is full of contrast: moments when the direction is reserved and academic, and then suddenly there’s a change in tone. Here’s what I dream of: that the viewer in the movie theater says to himself, ‘yeah, okay, it’s…” quote by Alain Resnais
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““I try hard to give rhythm to the changes of pace in a film so that the directing is full of contrast: moments when the direction is reserved and academic, and then suddenly there’s a change in tone. Here’s what I dream of: that the viewer in the movie theater says to himself, ‘yeah, okay, it’s filmed theater,’ and then suddenly changes his mind: ‘yes, but in theater you can’t do that…’ And it goes back and forth from theater to film, and sometimes over to comic strips with Blutch ‘s input. I’d like to try to achieve what Raymond Queneau called in Saint-Glinglin ‘ la brouchecoutaille ,’ a sort of ratatouille, by breaking down the walls between film and theater and thus ending up totally free.””

Alain Resnais

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Resnais describes blending cinematic and theatrical techniques to create dynamic contrast, aiming for a fluid, genre‑bending experience.

In simple terms: Mix film and theater for fresh storytelling.

Key Takeaway

Experiment with cross‑medium storytelling.

Themes

creativity genre‑blending visual storytelling

Mood

inspired playful

Type

artistic manifesto creative strategy

When to use this quote

  • film festivals
  • theatrical productions
  • creative workshops

Key Concepts

interdisciplinary art narrative structure aesthetic contrast

Questions to Reflect On

  • What moments in your work could benefit from theatrical flair?
  • How do you maintain coherence while breaking conventions?
A Different Perspective

Balancing contrast can confuse audiences if not grounded in clear narrative.

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