Film Review: CLéo from 5 to 7 - A Fearless Tale of Life, Death and Everything That Falls in Between

Source - The Criterion Collection

For a brief moment, a silent short film about two lovers in the city of Paris is featured in this film. The union of two distinct forms of film captures not just the essence of the french new wave cinema but also effortlessly dabbles in the highly influential filmography of Agnés Varda.

Introduction 

Film: Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962)

Director: Agnés Varda

Genre: Drama/Music

Duration: 1h 30m

Screenplay: Agnés Varda 

Cast: Corinne Marchand, Antoine Bourseiller, Michel Legrand

Language: French

Plot Synopsis - No Spoilers!

Over the course of two hours, a beautiful singer best known by her stage name Cléo Victoire tries to occupy her time around the city of Paris while waiting for test results from her doctor and ends up meeting a young soldier.

Film Review

Cléo from 5 to 7 begins in typical Agnés Varda fashion, the conflict in the plot is introduced in the first few minutes of the film, thus unarming the audience completely and letting them get to know the protagonist. The film goes on to follow the journey of Cléo (the protagonist) through time by dividing the entire film into different chapters thereby increasing the overall sense of urgency on screen.

Narratively, the film unfolds with a highly anxious and tense individual who later lets go of the petty worries of life and embraces the future in front of her with a dash of nerves.

One of the most distinctive features of the film is the striking character arc of the protagonist that keeps the audience hooked throughout the course of the film. It is empirical to note that Varda showcases the changes in the protagonist's perspective towards life and death not through life-changing events but through different characters that come in and leave at small intervals, owing to the limited time structure of the film.

Cléo learns about herself and catches a glimpse of her famous persona through the people around her while living the most mundane day of her life. This sense of simplicity compels the audience to delve deep into the psyche of the people they encounter on a daily basis and offers an interesting overview.

The lead cast delivers outstandingly and successfully exceeds all expectations. The young soldier who arrives in the last act offers much-needed relief to the intense plot development. The conversation between Cléo and the young soldier also provides masculine-feminine perspectives on death and love.

The film also features an insightful commentary on the nature of superstitions, bad omens and expresses the gullibility of successful and famous personalities. 

The tone and pace of the film are kept pretty confined and feel restricted due to the small time frame of the chapters. The role of time is highlighted through not just chapters but also some pretty interesting easter eggs.

The cinematography and editing of this film highlight the director's highly stylized filmmaking choices. The use of repetition in certain shots, switch between color and black and white tone, dramatic zoom-ins, and visual use of mirrors are some of the many ways in which the technical aspects of Cléo from 5 to 7 make it stand out.

My favorite aspects of the film include a beautiful Godard cameo, detail-oriented production, and costume design. And above all, the depiction of artists and the use of music in establishing the setting in a realistic manner.

The fact that Varda doesn't shy away from addressing the harsh realities of life even in her films goes to show the eternal beauty of one of the most influential filmmakers of all time.

The Bottom Line

Varda's magnum opus asks an enchanting question through unforgettable characters: What would you do if you were to find out in the next two hours the fate of your life? Cléo from 5 to 7 answers this question in a cheeky manner while weaving a tale of romance on the side. 

To all those who are looking for some good-old thought-provoking cinema, This film is a perfect starting point for exploring Agnés Varda's cinematic universe.

IMDb Rating - 7.9 on 10

Available on: Amazon Prime Video

Written By: Janshi