On March 10, the screening of Pierrot Le Fou, a popular French film, was put on by the Sonoma Film Institute. The film was shown in Darwin 107. Dr. Ajay Gehlawat in the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies introduced the screening. The film is 105 minutes and is in French with English subtitles. This film focuses on Ferdinand (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who is not happy in life, leaving everything behind and going off with the babysitter. This is Jean Luc Godard’s tenth feature in six years. Pierrot Le Fou is described as “one of the high points of the French New Wave, and was Godard’s last frolic before he moved ever further into radical cinema.” (the Criterion).

Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director born in 1930. Godard is a radical writer. Pierrot Le fou was originally booed when shown at the Venice Film Festival in September 1965 but later was recognized as being a great film. It inspired many people including Chantal Akerman, a famous Belgian Film director.

There were about 15 people in total that showed up to the screening. The room was small, but had seats that you would find in a theater, all facing towards the front of the room. The film started exactly at 7 p.m. and everyone put away their phones and became very quiet. There were only about two students out of the attendees. Through the duration of the film there were many parts that would receive a laugh from the audience. The film contained nudity and violence which was most likely the reason for it to be considered a radical film, especially since the violence was being caused by the babysitter, Marianne Renoir, in part.

A quote that was very popular among the audience and was specifically pointed out by Kaitlynne Droubay as her favorite quote was, “Why do you look so sad?’ Because you speak to me in words and I look at you with feelings.“ Droubay likes this quote because “It is very powerful. It’s what drew me to this film in the first place.” Droubay had considered viewing the film because her family is French and so she wanted to “explore French media.” After looking up the film prior to the screening, this quote is what made her want to go.

To help the Sonoma Film Institute, a $5 donation is suggested, but admission is free. You can also go online to the Sonoma Film Institute’s page and donate there as well. The first three films “Breathless”, “Pierrot Le Fou”, and “Life & Life” are shown in Darwin 107, but the screenings are usually shown in Warren Auditorium in Ives Hall on campus. They will be shown here again once construction is finished. The next screening, “Life & Life” by N.C. Heikin is going to be shown on Friday March 17 at 7 p.m. by Dr. Bryan Burton, Assistant Professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, and again two days later on that Sunday, March 19 at 4 p.m. The film schedule can be found on the SSU’s Film Institute’s page online.