À L'OMBRE DE LA CANAILLE BLEU (France, 1985, Pierre Clémenti)

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The most punk, the most urban, and the most willingly chaotic portrait of Paris in the late 1970s. —Philippe Azoury

Drenched in neon lights and leather, À L'OMBRE DE LA CANAILLE BLEU evokes the New York No Wave scene. —The Museum of Modern Art

À L'OMBRE DE LA CANAILLE BLEU (English translation: IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLUE RASCAL) is set in the underbelly of “Nécrocity,” a city of nightly terrors.

In this fictionalized Paris, fueled by heroin and paranoia, an anarchist group (played by Pierre Clémenti’s inner circle) — whose mastermind is a villainous military leader played by Clémenti himself — tries to keep one step ahead of the grip of state power. After 300 kilos of heroin goes missing, a significant wave of crime is catalyzed.

A harsh icy decent into the depths of hell. —Close-Up Film Centre

Clémenti’s sole feature as a director (and his only proper sound film) was based on a short story by Achmi Gachem and inspired by William S. Burroughs. Alongside Clémenti, the film stars frequent collaborator Jean-Pierre Kalfon opposite Achmi Gachem and Simon Reggiani.

Shot in 1978–79, an early silent version of À L'OMBRE DE LA CANAILLE BLEU was shown at the Centre Pompidou as a live “happening” with 20 musicians, prior to the film’s eventual completion in 1985.

À L'OMBRE DE LA CANAILLE BLEU is part of the DSL collection THE PIERRE CLÉMENTI COLLECTION.

À L'OMBRE DE LA CANAILLE BLEU
(France, 1985)

Director: Pierre Clémenti

  • 84 minutes
  • 16mm
  • Color
  • Sound
Distribution Format/s: DSL/Downloadable 1080p .mp4 file on server

Published By: Balthazar Clémenti

Institutional Price: $500

To order call: 212.280.8654 or click here for information on ordering by fax, e-mail or post.