Derrida(film)
| Derrida | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Kirby Dick Amy Ziering Kofman |
| Produced by | Amy Ziering Kofman |
| Cinematography | Kirsten Johnson |
| Edited by | Kirby Dick Matthew Clarke |
| Music by | Ryuichi SakamotoandRobert Miles |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Zeitgeist Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English French |
Derridais a 2002 Americandocumentary filmdirected byKirby DickandAmy Ziering Kofmanabout the French philosopherJacques Derrida.It premiered at the 2002Sundance Film Festivalbefore being released theatrically on October 23, 2002.
Synopsis
[edit]The film uses interviews shot by the filmmakers, footage of Derrida's lectures and speaking engagements, and personal footage of Derrida at home with his friends and family. In several scenes, Ziering Kofman also reads excerpts from Derrida's work or otherwise describes aspects of his life.
Derridaalso focuses on Derrida's thesis that scholars tend to ignore important biographical information when discussing philosophers' lives.[1]In one scene, Derrida comments that he would be most interested in hearing about famous philosophers' sex lives because this topic is seldom addressed in their writings. The filmmakers respond to many of these criticisms by probing Derrida on various aspects of his own personal life, though he usually refuses to answer directly questions about himself.
The film also follows Derrida during a trip toSouth Africawhere he visitsNelson Mandela's former prison cell and discussesforgivenesswith university students. Derrida states that his own childhood experiences withanti-Semitismhave heightened his sensitivity toracial issues.
Analysis
[edit]At several points,Derridashows the philosopher applying his theory ofdeconstructionto the film itself.[2]Derrida often challenges the filmmaking process and argues against the capability of any film to portray him accurately. The film also includes metacinematic scenes in which Derrida analyzes previously recorded footage of himself. In one such scene, Derrida telescopically watches a video of himself analyzing footage of himself.
Nicholas Royle argues that the film's labyrinthine,Ouroboros-like structure reinforces several key Derridean tenets:
- "If Dick and Ziering Kofman follow Derrida, Derrida is also following them.Derridais a film about following, about the compulsiveness and ghostliness of following, of following the camera, of following the story, of following a film. ButDerridais also a film about the impossibility of following, about the consequences and effects of Derrida's work vis-à-vis the 'story of a life', about the idea that Derrida cannot tell a story. "[3]
Reception
[edit]Film critics generally gaveDerridapositive reviews; the film has an 82% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[4]Kenneth Turan of theLos Angeles Timespraised the film for its sophisticated style and said it was "the cinematic equivalent of a mind-expanding drug"[5]whileFilm Threat'sTim Merrill described it as "a priceless historical record."[6]Other critics, likeThe Guardian'sPeter Bradshaw, found the film whimsical and entertaining but lamented Derrida's evasive and mysterious demeanor.[7]
Derrida received the Golden Gate Award at the 2002San Francisco Film Festivaland screened in competition for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2002Sundance Film Festival.
Post-Release
[edit]Derrida enjoyed the film and appeared at several promotional events to discuss the film and answer questions about the project.[8]
Derrida died in October 2004.
In 2005, Routledge published a companion book,Derrida,which includes the film'sscreenplay,several essays on the film, and interviews with Derrida, Dick, and Ziering Kofman. The book describes many of the events that followed the film's release, including Derrida's unexpected celebrity status on the streets of New York City. This phenomenon prompted Derrida's wife to remark to the filmmakers, "I hear you've made him intoClint Eastwood."[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Thomassen, Lasse."Derridaphilia".culturemachine.net.Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2009.Retrieved2009-08-30.
- ^Jeffries, Stuart (2003-01-18)."Lights! Camera! Think!".guardian.co.uk.Retrieved2009-08-30.
- ^Royle, Nicholas (2005). "Blind Cinema". In Dick, Kirby; Ziering Kofman, Amy (eds.).Derrida.Routledge. p. 16.ISBN0-415-97407-0.
- ^"Derrida".Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^Turan, Kenneth (2002-11-08)."Movie Review: Derrida".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2009-08-30.
- ^Merrill, Tim (2002-10-27)."Derrida".filmthreat.Retrieved2009-08-30.
- ^Bradshaw, Peter (2003-01-31)."Derrida".guardian.co.uk.Retrieved2009-08-30.
- ^abDick, Kirby (2005). "Resting on the Edge of An Impossible Confidence". In Dick, Kirby; Ziering Kofman, Amy (eds.).Derrida.Routledge. pp. 47–9.ISBN0-415-97407-0.