Le joli mai

In May 1962, the Algerian war of independence came to an end. It was the first time in 23 years that France wasn’t involved in an international conflict. With this film—in which he turned his unique gaze on his home country of France for the first time—Chris Marker achieved a remarkable piece of cinema verité. Inspired by Jean Rouch's pioneer Chronicle of a Summer, Marker and his cameraman Pierre Lhomme take to the streets of Paris with a lightweight camera. They interview laborers, small businessmen, soldiers, priests, immigrants and students, who talk about what keeps them busy, what makes them happy and how they see their place in society. Of course the recent episode in French-Algerian history also comes up. Marker’s lyric commentary, spoken by actor Yves Montand, lends the film an extra dimension without forcing an interpretation on the viewer or depriving the interviewees of their dignity. Dedicated to "the happy many," the film is a meaningful sociological mosaic, composed of the opinions of Parisians from all walks of life.