ReFocus: The Films of Michel Gondry

Abstract

The acclaimed French auteur behind the mind-bending modern classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Michel Gondry has directed innovative, ground-breaking films and documentaries, episodes of the acclaimed television show Kidding and some of the most influential music videos in the history of the medium. In this book, a range of international scholars offers a comprehensive study of this significant and influential figure, covering his French and English-language films and videos, and framing Gondry as a transnational and transcultural auteur whose work provides insight into both French/European and American cinematic and cultural identity. With detailed case studies of films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (2005), The Science of Sleep (2006), Be Kind Rewind (2008), Mood Indigo (2013) and Microbe & Gasoline (2015), the book examines significant themes throughout Gondry’s filmography including surrealism, adaptation, memory, dreams, play and African-American identity. The book compares Gondry to other filmmakers including Wes Anderson and Jean Vigo, allowing for an understanding of how Gondry’s films might compare with both his global contemporaries and his predecessors in French and international cinema. Furthermore, the book demonstrates how Gondry’s work in narrative film, documentary and music video represents significant innovation in narrative, visual aesthetic, and genre.