Agnès Varda was a powerful figure in French cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the industry for more than half a century. With her signature bowl cut and fearless cinematic vision, she became a beloved and recognizable presence on the French film scene. As a pioneer of the French New Wave, Varda’s innovative approach to storytelling and filmmaking style helped shape the cinematic landscape of her native France.
Agnès Varda passed away on March 29, 2019. She was 90 years of age at the time of her death. In honour of her name, let’s explore the life and career of this cinema icon.
The Rise of a Visionary Filmmaker
Agnès Varda was born Arlette Varda on May 30, 1928, in Ixelles, Belgium, but she would later legally change her first name to Agnès at the age of 18. Before turning to filmmaking, Varda studied photography in her twenties, a hobby she would continue to pursue throughout her life, which arguably contributed to her keen eye for detail and cinematic storytelling. Her dual passions for photography and filmmaking resulted in a unique visual style that earned her numerous accolades, including the Palme d’Or nomination for Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) and the Golden Lion win for Vagabond (1985), which also became a commercial success, selling over a million tickets.
In her later years, Varda continued to push boundaries, becoming the oldest person nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 at the age of 89 for her work as a producer and director on the documentary Faces, Places. Throughout her remarkable career, Varda’s films have been celebrated for their poetic nuance and cinematic beauty, solidifying her status as a master of French New Wave cinema. She also held a prominent position in pop culture for her friendship with The Doors‘ lead singer, Jim Morrison. In fact, she was one of a six people who attended his funeral.
How Agnès Varda Achieved Hollywood Attention
Agnès Varda is a rare example of a foreign filmmaker who captured widespread attention from Hollywood. While she never released a Hollywood movie, she did venture over to the land of opportunity with the aim of breaking in. However, the attention she garnered was at first through controversy. While visiting Los Angeles with her partner Jacques Demy, Varda had an unsavoury interaction with a Hollywood producer who pinched her on the cheek. In retaliation, she slapped him across the face. When speaking with The Guardian in 2018, she talked about the incident, saying: “It was disgusting to do this to me. I slapped him. But he deserved it.”
After a stir was caused, Varda went back to her roots and continued making films in France. However, as Hollywood become more open to foreign cinema, many of her movies gathered attention abroad. Most notably, films like Kung-Fu Master!, and Jacquot of Nantes garnered the most attention, particularly after they were released on VHS.
How Did Agnès Varda Die?
Agnès Varda passed away on March 29, 2019. Her passing was the result of a battle with breast cancer. The sad news was confirmed by a spokeswoman for her production company, Ciné-Tamaris. Despite her diagnosis, Varda reportedly stayed as active as possible in her final months. She died at her home in France – a famous pink-painted house on a cobbled street in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. In the wake of her passing, her family released a statement, saying: “The director and artist Agnès Varda died at her home on the night of Thursday, March 29, of complications from cancer. She was surrounded by her family and friends.”
Tributes Poured in Following Her Passing
One of the first people to pay tributes and homage to Agnès Varda was Oscar-winning filmmaker, Martin Scorsese. He took to his Instagram page, writing: “What a body of work she left behind: movies big and small, playful and tough, generous and solitary, lyrical and unflinching…and alive. I saw her for the last time a couple of months ago. She knew that she didn’t have much longer, and she made every second count: she didn’t want to miss a thing. I feel so lucky to have known her.”
The official Twitter page (now X) for Festival de Cannes wrote: “Immense sadness. For almost 65 years, Agnès Varda’s eyes and voice embodied cinema with endless inventiveness. The place she occupied is irreplaceable. Agnès loved images, words and people. She’s one of those whose youth will never fade.” Moonlight director Barry Jenkins also took to his Twitter page to pay his respects, hailing Varda a “legend”. Want to read about another icon who sadly passed away? Here’s our honouring of the work of Akira Toriyama.
Follow Us
