Bologna, Italy is preparing to host a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the groundbreaking work of Agnès Varda, the celebrated French filmmaker. marks the opening of “Viva Varda! Il cinema è donna” (“Viva Varda! Cinema is Woman”) at the Galleria Modernissimo, a sprawling exhibition spanning 1,200 square meters. The show will run through .
The exhibition, curated by Florence Tissot with artistic direction from Rosalie Varda, is a production of Cineteca di Bologna and La Cinémathèque française. It arrives with significant institutional support from the Comune di Bologna, the Regione Emilia-Romagna, and the Ministero della Cultura, alongside sponsorship from Gruppo Hera, Selenella, and Coop Alleanza 3.0. “Viva Varda! Il cinema è donna” isn’t occurring in isolation; it’s presented in close dialogue with another major Varda retrospective, “Agnès Varda. Qui e là, tra Parigi e Roma” (“Agnès Varda. Here and There, Between Paris and Rome”), currently on display at Villa Medici in Rome from to .
Varda’s legacy is one of firsts. She was the first woman to receive an honorary Oscar for her career, presented by Angelina Jolie in 2017, and the first female director to win top honors at the Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and Berlin film festivals, among others. The Bologna exhibition aims to encapsulate the breadth of her artistic vision, moving beyond simply film to encompass her work in painting, photography, theatre, and political activism.
The exhibition promises a multifaceted exploration of Varda’s oeuvre, featuring films, photographs, installations, personal artifacts, and costumes. Organizers have structured the show around several key themes. One section will focus on Varda’s self-portraiture and her relationship with images, examining her use of photography, painting, and unexpected juxtapositions. Another will delve into her cinematic writing, particularly her creation of complex and compelling female characters – a facet of her work that cemented her status as a feminist icon. A further section will explore her nomadic spirit and social commitment, highlighting her documentary work and her engagement with political and cultural shifts.
Notably, “Viva Varda! Il cinema è donna” will also dedicate space to Varda’s connection to Italy. While details remain limited, this suggests a deeper dive into the influence of Italian culture and locations on her work, building on the themes explored in the concurrent exhibition at Villa Medici. The Rome exhibition, as noted by Villa Medici, invites audiences to immerse themselves in postwar Paris, specifically the courtyard-studio on Rue Daguerre where Varda lived and worked for decades, and to explore her travels throughout Italy.
Varda’s career was remarkably diverse, and the exhibition will reflect that. The show promises to touch upon her relationships with a constellation of iconic figures – Jacques Demy, Fidel Castro, Jim Morrison, Jane Birkin, Catherine Deneuve, Marcello Mastroianni, Madonna, and Jean-Luc Godard – illustrating the breadth of her artistic and personal life. Her fondness for cats will also be acknowledged, a charming detail that speaks to the personal nature of her work.
The Bologna exhibition is more than just a retrospective; it’s a celebration of a truly unique artist whose influence continues to resonate. By presenting Varda’s work in such a comprehensive and multi-dimensional way, “Viva Varda! Il cinema è donna” aims to offer a fresh perspective on her enduring legacy and her significant contribution to the history of cinema, and beyond. For those seeking further information, the Cineteca di Bologna’s website (https://cinetecadibologna.it) provides additional details.
