The Young Girls Turn 25

Varda’s splendid documentary revisits the town of Rochefort on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the shooting of Jacques Demy’s The Young Girls of Rochefort, and finds evidence of the film’s lasting effects on the townspeople. In a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the production (including Michel Legrand’s original score, the choreography, the art direction, and the complex camera setups), Varda combines imagery she gathered in 1966 with interviews and observations shot during the reunion of cast and crew. This powerful and celebratory film is the perfect accompaniment to Demy’s masterful achievement.