N. a Pris les Dés... (1971)

aka N. Took the Dice

Music lovers will probably be familiar with the concept of a remix. Alain Robbe-Grillet did something similar with his L'éden et Après (1970) film. Constructed from outtakes, alternate and unused footage, N. a Pris les Dés... is essentially the same story but from a different character's perspective. It comments on its own design, how in scripted drama one thing follows another thing according to a set of rules. Then, equated to a dice roll, it arranges itself in a less straightforward manner. More than just a professed justification for being non-linear, it develops meaning through repetition and reinvention, unified by self-analysis and its relationship to the original film. The bizarre soundtrack helps the imagery gel, but as a narrative in its own right it may confound. As a companion to L'éden et Après, however, it's effective.

3½ stolen gazes out of 5

L'éden et Après (1970)

aka Eden and After / Oltre L'Eden

The 'plot' of Alain Robbe-Grillet's first colour film is revealed gradually but not before he sets a visual and conceptual precedent of timeless beauty wherein clarity is subservient to implied meaning. The Café Eden, in which the people spend a lot of their time, is a Piet Mondrian painting brought to life. The filming technique within that space is astonishing. Each time I was on the verge of tiring of the game a timely change occurred making everything fascinating again. It's a Left Bank masterpiece of vibrant colour and perfect lighting. Anyone unfamiliar with French cinema prior to watching will be in for a shock or a treat depending on their individual likes and dislikes. If you enjoy L'éden et Après, you may want to seek out N. a Pris les Dés... (1971) next.

4 faces, objects, gestures out of 5