REBECCA H. (RETURN TO THE DOGS)
France/US, 2010, 75 minutes, Colour.
Geraldine Pailhas, Pascale Greggory.
A brief experimental film that will have the audience puzzling. Lodge Kerrigan has made few films. His Keane was a signficant character study.
This time he is in Paris making a film about singer Grace Slick. His star is the French actress, Geraldine Pailhas. He edits, without warning, scenes of Geraldine Pailhas, interviews and takes of his film, along with the character of Rebecca H. who has mental problems but wants to go to the US to be a singer. Pascal Greggory plays himself as well as Rebecca’s brother.
There are songs from Jefferson Airplane. There are long tracking shots following behind Rebecca and Geraldine Pailhas. So, this film about film-making and performers is an experiment and an experience – for those who relish this kind of experiment.
1. The impact of the film, experimental, a performance film, a film about directing and editing, the set-ups, repeat takes, stand-ins? A film about filming?
2. The impact: narrative, minimal, Rebecca and the loud music, the makeup in the mirror, her breakdown? The visit to her brother, demanding the money, wanting to go to America, for a singing career, asking in the street about the travel agent, the price of the fare, wanting something cheaper, her intentions?
3. Geraldine Pailhas as an actress in herself, the interviews with Pasquale Greggory, making a film about Grace Slick? The songs, Jefferson Airplane? Somebody to love? The various takes? Her talk about Maurice Pialat and his influence on her career? The scene from the Cannes opening of 2003? Working with the director? The final song, her miming, singing? The set-ups and her double? The scenes of Grace Slick?
4. The narrative of Geraldine or Rebecca, the swimming sequences, the walks, the long takes with the camera behind her?
5. Rebecca and her walk, the swim, the murder, the body in the ditch?
6. Pasquale Greggory as himself, as Rebecca's brother, the interviews, the various takes for the film, the death, going in the taxi, revisiting the scene?
7. The director himself appearing as himself, directing the film, explaining the takes?
8. An exercise in experimental film and the experience of filming?
