Bilkent Cinematics will be screening Leos Carax’s astonishing “Holy Motors” on Wednesday, December 11, at 6 p.m. in FB309; a discussion of the film will follow.
“Holy Motors” begins with a man (Leos Carax himself) waking up in a bed and slowly making his way around the room he seems to have found himself in. He approaches the walls, one of which is covered with wallpaper depicting trees. Carax explores this wall, finds the trace of a hidden door and tries to push it open. He unlocks the door using a key growing from his finger and goes beyond the wall, beyond the threshold of the ordinary world. He finds himself in a darkened cinema where people sit before the projector’s light beam. Well, isn’t that what artists do? Unlock doors with their fingers?
Then we meet Monsieur Oscar (Denis Lavant), who gets into a waiting limo driven by a taciturn woman, and we see that the back of the limo is a dressing room filled with costumes and props. When he gets out the first time, he has transformed himself into a beggar woman. This will be the first of his many roles, guises or “embodiments.” He performs in bizarre and mysterious ways. His personas are so diverse, it would be futile to try to link them, or find a thread of narrative or symbolism.
As with all Cinematics film screenings, the movie will be shown in its original language, with English subtitles; everyone is welcome to attend, and snacks and beverages will be served.
Contact Hossein Dabir at dabir@bilkent.edu.tr for more details.