“EVERYONE WHO LOVES MOVIES
OWES A DEBT TO HENRI LANGLOIS…
(the film) makes a persuasive case for Langlois as one of the most important figures in the history of film and therefore in the history of 20th century art. Full of wonderful reminiscences from those closest to Langlois, as well as interviews with some of his antagonists. (Langlois) emerges in the course of this fascinating film as a maddening, inspiring figure, afire with intelligence and passion.”
– A.O. Scott, The New York Times. Click here to read the entire review.

[3 1/2 stars] FIRST-RATE.
Insightful and hilarious archival interviews with Langlois
and dozens of his associates... (A) fitting tribute.”
– Lou Lumenick, New York Post

[3 1/2 stars] A FILM BUFF’S BANQUET.
Langlois is the reason why certain masters and
masterpieces of early cinema can still be seen at all today…
A must-see for cinephiles.”
-– John Anderson, Newsday

DIRECTED BY JACQUES RICHARD
FRANCE,  2005
128 MINUTES
IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
LEISURE TIME FEATURES

HENRI LANGLOIS, CO-FOUNDER OF THE CINEMATHEQUE FRANÇAISE in Paris in 1936, the world’s first film archive, was an enormously curious and classically rumpled film aficionado who fought film’s disposable status by saving everything. Joined by the equally eccentric Mary Meerson, over the course of 40 years Langlois hid thousands of films from the Nazis and championed the work of once-forgotten stars (Louise Brooks, Gloria Swanson) and American genre directors (Howard Hawks, Nicholas Ray). The man who schooled Godard, Truffaut, Rohmer, and Chabrol (all seen onscreen), helped make Paris the center of film culture. “A moviegoer’s treat and a cinephile’s delight” — Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune.

• Read A.O. Scott’s New York Times review AND
  watch his “Movie Minutes” review with clips from the film!