French actor and director Mathieu Amalric dives back into the diverse world of musician and composer John Zorn. With Zorn III (2018-2022), his third film about the New York creator, he is interested in the relationship between Zorn and a performer, his partner Barbara Hannigan, who has to put a particularly complex score in her mouth.
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Mathieu Amalric is fascinated by the work of singers and musicians in general, whom he doesn’t hesitate to call “creative geniuses”, and by the work of New York avant-garde composer John Zorn in particular, who influenced all genres – from punk music to Free jazz to klezmer, classical or experimental music.
For this third film dedicated to anger – presented on Saturday as part of the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) – he wanted to go into a “detail”, as he confides to us in an interview via video conference. That of an actor receiving a score and reading the opening lines saying, “What the fuck? ‘ he illustrates.
PHOTO VALERY HACHE, AGENCE FRANCE PRESS ARCHIVE
Mathieu Amalric, seen here in Cannes during the presentation of his film Serre-moi fort in 2021, has directed three films about John Zorn.
I wanted to show the shock that all musicians experience when they step into the world of John Zorn.
Mathieu Amalrich
By chance, John Zorn wrote a piece, Jumalattaret, inspired by Finnish pagan goddesses, and offered it to his partner (since 2015), Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan. The two artists knew each other but had never worked together.
For his part, Mathieu Amalric, who met John Zorn in 2008 – he performed on stage one of the voices of the musical adaptation of the Song of Songs – was invited to film several of the American composer’s projects.
The collaboration between Zorn and Hannigan struck him as a promising vein for this third opus.
“There is this correspondence between the two, which is very beautiful and frank,” emphasizes Mathieu Amalric. Barbara feels unable to carry out the project, John replies: “Then next time…” Then she tells him: “Wait!” She needs to change her work habits. Will she get there? From there everything starts. »
That tension is palpable in Mathieu Amalric’s film, which ranges from Barbara Hannigan’s rehearsals with pianist Stephen Gosling, to John Zorn’s work sessions, to Zorn and Hannigan’s meeting in Lisbon to discuss details – and pitfalls – of the Jumalattaret piece that will ultimately be in presented in Hamburg.
IMAGE FROM THE MOVIE JOHN ZORN III (2018-2022)
Barbara Hannigan
There are some slightly technical passages – we add a note here, we increase the tempo there, or we lower that staff an octave – but that doesn’t stop us from appreciating the creative work of these artists who know how to draw on sets the second.
“We must not forget that these films are shown as part of John Zorn’s musical marathons,” emphasizes Mathieu Amalric. They’re shown to audiences that come to see his shows, so it’s certainly very precise, but I think we can still find these intimate working moments between musicians inspiring. »
We assume Mathieu Amalric is also an act of love as he films his lover – he filmed her in 2017’s Music Is Music.
Of course there is love, but this film is very professional. I shot Barbara in It’s almost at the end of the world, a 15 minute film where I wondered where the operatic voice came from and we can say that she was in love! But I filmed two people I love, yes. I could never have imagined filming any other way.
Mathieu Amalrich
Mathieu Amalric, unable to present his film in person at FIFA in Montreal, is currently working on the shooting of another documentary about the American quartet Emerson, who will give their last concert in Paris on October 7th before saying goodbye to New York in November.
IMAGE FROM THE MOVIE JOHN ZORN III (2018-2022)
Barbara Hannigan and John Zorn
As a director, he pursues his film projects inspired by the approach of musicians. “That’s because they’re entering areas of incredible danger, so I’m inspired by the severity of the music in my cinema. In the sense that there is a lot of preparation work, but at the time of the performance there is a kind of letting go, animality and sheer presence. »
He wants to make an adaptation of The Man Without Qualities (by Robert Musil), “an unfinished novel of more than 2500 pages! ‘ he says, laughing, but doesn’t turn his back on the game – when he’s offered gifts. Like that role in Nanni Moretti’s next film (Il sol dell’avvenire) filmed last summer.
But, he assures us, there will be a Wrath IV. Because his collaboration – and his friendship – with the American composer will not end here. We already know that John Zorn will be touring Europe to celebrate his 70th birthday, rest assured that Mathieu Amalric will not be far behind with his camera.
Zorn III (2018-2022) will be presented on March 18th at 3pm at the Cinéma du Musée.