Exclusive Trailer for Moi-même Revives a Neglected Film Depicting the Revolution in Paris

      While there are many cinephilic joys to be found in exploring overlooked treasures from past decades, it is quite rare to encounter a film made before most of our lifetimes that has only recently been completed. Such is the story of Moi-même, which was filmed during the political and social upheaval of Paris in 1968 by Lee Breuer, in collaboration with future members of the renowned downtown experimental theater group Mabou Mines.

      This unscripted, silent satire follows a 13-year-old boy trying to create a film amidst the events of May '68, but the project was left unfinished. More than fifty years later, Breuer’s son Mojo Lorwin resurrected the footage, choosing to edit the film by adding dialogue, sound, and music to finalize it during the last year of his father's life. The completed film reflects both his father’s spirit and that of his '60s peers, serving as a homage to them and drawing parallels to the works of Robert Downey Sr. and Jacques Rivette. It is scheduled to make its New York premiere this month at L’Alliance on February 27, and we are excited to present the new trailer exclusively.

      The film includes a cameo by Jean-Luc Godard, footage of student protestors outside the Sorbonne, and early performances from several founding members of Mabou Mines like Ruth Maleczech, David Warrilow, and Fred Neumann, who are also recognized for their interpretations of Samuel Beckett’s works. Confronted with hours of unedited silent film, as Breuer had initially planned to dub the film later, Lorwin dedicated three years to crafting a script, editing the visuals, and collaborating with various voice actors, musicians, and sound experts to transform the raw footage into a feature film.

      Described in the synopsis, “A collaboration between father and son spanning half a century, Moi-même is both a lost 60s arthouse film and a distinctive new experimental film that utilizes the original footage to narrate a story about the political and artistic legacy of the 60s in contemporary times and to examine the significance of unfinished projects.”

      Watch the exclusive trailer below and secure tickets for the NY premiere on February 27 here, which will include a Q&A session.