For almost fifty years now, film guru and raconteur Jean Douchet has acted as a sort of Parisian movie magnet, bringing together the various filaments that make up its diverse world of cinéphiles. Douchet, who began his career with legendary Cahiers du Cinéma critics-cum-filmmakers Truffaut, Godard, and Rivette, has for several decades worked all aspects of the film world, from director to actor to critic to historian. Nearing eighty but still running on full steam, he recently published one of the most comprehensive studies to date on the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague, F. Hazan, 2004), and continues to contribute a monthly column to Cahiers on new DVD releases. But his most impressive accomplishment remains the two longstanding film clubs that he holds down each month at the Cinéma du Panthéon (Paris 5) and the Cinémathèque Française (Paris 12)—screenings which he animates with his own special blend of theory, history, and clever anecdotes. At the Panthéon he is currently presenting a film series on “Cinema and Homosexuality” which in May will be screening Nagisa Oshima’s Tabou (2000), featuring a knockout performance by “Beat” Takeshi Kitano.
Cinéma du Panthéon, 13, rue Victor Cousin, Paris 5. RER Luxembourg. 01 40 46 01 21 http://cinema.pantheon.free.fr