Once There Was Everything
The films of Robert Bresson are so sharply attuned to the mysteries of the physical world that even a simple shot of a character walking through a doorway can take on spiritual and philosophical resonance. In this new video essay, filmmaker Kogonada looks at how the motif of doors reverberates throughout the French auteur’s work, both as a recurring symbol of the consequences of free will and as a constant, creaking presence within the director’s musique concrète soundscapes. Watch the video above, then head over to the Criterion Channel on FilmStruck, where seven of Bresson’s masterpieces are now available to stream.
Also, be sure to catch Kogonada’s new film Columbus as it makes its way to theaters across the country. An intimately observed drama interwoven with piercing insights on the power of architecture, it’s one of the most acclaimed debut features of the year, and a showcase for the keen eye for cinematic detail he’s shared with us in his seven video essays on the Current.
