Le livre d'image

In the titles to his essay film Le livre d’image, Godard quotes Bertold Brecht: "Only a fragment carries the mark of authenticity." This is the key to his own film, which is composed of fragments from other films, YouTube clips and artworks. Godard manipulates these images, puts fragments of music under them and adds a whispered voice-over spoken by himself.

Le livre d'image is divided into five chapters, within which eight motifs can be discerned: hands, the train, nationalism, violence, chaos, the law, imperialism and revolution. In addition, a recurring Godard theme appears: the difference between word and image, and between reality and the representation of reality. As far as the latter is concerned, in the second half of his stimulating essay, Godard examines the Western view of the Middle East, which – it transpires – is represented mainly as an exotic place. Godard deconstructs this view and opposes it with another: film clips from the East. In so doing, he gives Arabs a voice.

Sea also Frameworks Master Talk Nicole Brenez.