Cinema and Counter-Power / 4

Film critic, writer and teacher Jean-Michel Frodon was editor of Les Cahiers du Cinéma and runs “Projection publique,” the cinema blog of Slate. Philosopher, emeritus director of research at the CNRS, Marie-José Mondzain’s interests include images and their power, which is the theme of several of her books.

In what sense can images embody an alternative power source?
Images were long despised or even condemned by those who controlled thought. They can manifest their contestatory, contradictory turbulence in relation to all forms of power. This threat is inseparable from what it is that can make any image a figure of desire and an offer of resistance and liberty. The power of images is bound to interest any dominant agency, which will seek to confiscate this energy for its own advantage.

Why the particular interest in cinema?
Because its particular way of articulating the real and fiction places it in a strategic position when it comes to questioning the possibilities of transforming our world. We want to provide viewers with critical resources to deal with what is overwhelmingly presented to them in terms of pleasure, sensation or highly dubious compassion.

What themes will be discussed in the seminar?
We have identified four modalities capable of activating counter-power – not an exhaustive selection, obviously: laughter, childhood and minorities, and public space and the environment. To these four angles of approach can be added a session with Avi Mograbi, an artist who has been invited to Jeu de Paume at the same time, and whose work mobilises numerous forms of counter-power. Each meeting will be preceded by the screening of a film directly related to the theme of the day.
Marie-José Mondzain et Jean-Michel Frodon

WITH AVI MOGRABI
Friday 20 March

At 4:30 pm, screening of
Z32 by Avi Mograbi (France/Israel, 2008, 82’)
A former Israeli soldier has taken part in a reprisal mission in which two Palestinian policemen were killed and is trying to obtain forgiveness for what he has done. His girlfriend thinks that this will be difficult and raises questions he is not yet able to face. The soldier is ready to bear witness to camera providing his identity is concealed. The filmmaker tries to preserve the soldier’s anonymity while questioning his own political and artistic conduct.

At 6.30 pm the screening will be followed by a discussion with Marie-José Mondzain, Jean-Michel Frodon, Avi Mograbi and Rasha Salti.

Admission: 3 euros, or free to members or holders of a ticket for the day. Information: infoauditorium@jeudepaume.org