“Venturing from Venice Beach to Watts, Varda looks at the murals of Los Angeles as backdrop to and mirror of the city’s many cultures circa 1980. She casts a curious eye on graffiti and photorealism, roller disco and gang violence, evangelical Christians, Hare Krishnas, artists, angels, and ordinary Angelenos. Along the meandering way, we meet the creators of some of California’s most memorable wall art, including Judy Baca, mastermind of the Great Wall of Los Angeles project along the L.A. River; Arno Jordan, painter of the ironically bucolic scenes adorning the Farmer John meatpacking plant; and Kent Twitchell, who offers a theological rationale for a depiction of the Holy Trinity starring actors from Lassie, The Lone Ranger, and Father Knows Best. The film is very Varda and very L.A.: vibrating with color and surprising juxtapositions, rich in illusion and allusion.” - Juliet Clark, Pacific Film Archive (1980, 82 min., in French w/English subtitles) Followed by Black Panthers: Varda would often travel from L.A. to Oakland during the late ‘60’s to film Black Panther meetings and demonstrations with a borrowed 16mm camera. In 1968, she turned her camera on an Oakland demonstration against the imprisonment of activist and Black Panther’s co-founder Huey P. Newton. In addition to Varda’s fascination with her adopted surroundings and her empathy, this perceptive short is also a powerful political statement. (28 min.) Released: 1980 Run time: 110 min. total
