IT’S NOT ME

Additional screening: 16 September / 18:10 / Anschlag hall

❗ Trigger/content warning: putin, russians

What it’s about

This cinematic essay by Léos Carax, created in a Godardian style, is the director’s self-reflection on his filmography, spanning over four decades. The idea for this short film emerged while working on a project for the Pompidou Center in Paris, which planned an exhibition in the director’s honor that never took place. Trying to answer the question of the curators – “Where are you, Léos Carax?”, – he immersed into the process of self-discovery. The director’s creative search resulted in a vivid cinematic reflection, where his personal story is intertwined with world history, and movie scenes with real life.

Reasons to watch

This poetic 40-minute self-portrait by Léos Carax marked the director’s return to Cannes after the 2021 success of Annette, which brought him the Best Director Award.

It’s Not Me, with its seemingly chaotic remix of images, is a real find for cinephiles. The film features Carax’s favorite actor Denis Lavant, who also appeared in the director’s most famous films (Boy Meets Girl, Bad Blood, Lovers of the New Bridge), as Monsieur Merde from Tokyo! and Holy Motors. The film also offers a chance to see baby Annette to the sounds of Modern Love by David Bowie, rather than the usual Sparks.

About the director 

Léos Carax (an anagram of Alex Oscar Dupont) is a French director and screenwriter. As a teenager, he wrote for Cahiers du Cinéma, one of the most influential film magazines in the world. In 1984, Carax created his feature debut, Boy Meets Girl, which was enthusiastically received at Cannes. The director's filmography includes 6 full-length and 5 short films. His most successful and famous works are Holy Motors (2012) and Annette (2021). Both films competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes.