The Wind of the Night
Philippe Garrel is discreet and poignant in his telling of the story of the twilight of the generation of May 1968. Serge (Daniel Duval), a veteran of the Paris protests who is tired of life, has a chance meeting with the much younger Paul (Xavier Beauvois, who would later direct the well-known Of Gods and Men). During an unhurried trip to Italy, Serge talks with bitterness about emptiness left behind after the defeat of his old ideals. The two protagonists engage in long discussions that allow them to get to know one another better. They realize their views clash on just about everything: from feelings about drugs, the treatment of women, to priorities in life. When the two return to Paris, their differences in character become even more intensely felt, as they compete for the affections of the noble Hélène (Catherine Deneuve). Will the appearance of a beautiful woman change Serge’s life and prevent him from committing suicide?
Philippe Garrel
Born in 1948, Philippe Garrel is the son of the well-known actor Maurice Garrel and one of the most important continuators of the French New Wave. He was only 16 when he made his debut film, Les enfants désaccordés (Children Out of Tune). His films combine lyrical self-portraits, cinematic tributes to his favorite filmmakers, and critical social commentary. His first big success was The Secret Son, for which he won a Jean Vigo Award in 1979. Garrel’s most important films include Liberty at Night, Wild Innocence, and Regular Lovers, which concerns the events of May 1968.
Selected filmography
1979 Sekretne dziecko / L’enfant secret / The Secret Child
1991 Nie słyszę już gitary / J'entends plus la guitare / I Don't Hear the Guitar Anymore
1984 Liberté, la nuit / Liberty at Night
1999 Powiew nocy / Le vent de la nuit / Night Wind
2005 Zwyczajni kochankowie / Les amants réguliers / Regular Lovers