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


 

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 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.

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
(France, 1985)

Director: Pierre Clémenti

  • 84 minutes
  • 16mm
  • Color
  • Sound

Distribution Format/s: DSL/Downloadable 1080p .mp4 file on server


Published By: GME

Institutional Price: $250

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