MR. X, A VISION OF LEOS CARAX (2014)

Directed By: Tessa Louise-Salome 
Written By: Tessa Lousie-Salome, Adrien Walter & Chantel Perrin-Cluzet 
Cinematography By: Kaname Onoyama 
Editor: Laureline Attali & Tessa Louise-Salome 

Featuring: Leos Carax, Harmony Korine, Denis Lavant, Kylie Minogue, Gilles Jacob, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Nelly Quettier


The image of a mysterious, solitary filmmaker - a cineaste maudit - who flees from both the media and the public, is unrelentingly bound to the figure of Leos Carax, in France. Elsewhere, the real focus is on his films and he is considered to be an icon of world cinema. Mr. X dives into the poetic and visionary world of an artist who was already a cult figure from his very first film. Punctuated by interviews and unseen footage, this documentary is most of all a fine-tuned exploration of the poetic and visionary world of Leos Carax, alias "Mr. X".

Truthfully this should have been a DVD extra for one of his films. Though as who knows when or if her will make another move. I can see why it was released domestically as it's own entity. It feels like it would be an addition in a career retrospective DVD box set or a special edition DVD.

I say this as the documentary is barely close to 90 minutes and at times feels like it stretches it's short running time with filler of elongated scenes from his films.

The documentary isn't a fair and balanced affair. It is more a celebratory feature that offers very little insight into the director Leos Carax as a person as well as director. Though the film does skin what his films are about or at least mean to him as well as some friends and critics. We also get to see behind the scenes footage of most of his productions.

Though as the title insists the director remains an enigma and mystery. While we get hints about him. Unfortunately this makes him and the whole endeavor some off wanting to look deep and artistic, but instead seems pretentious. I would say indulgent but they would have to offer something of substance for that. It's a shame as you want to like him and get to know him. See what went into his work. His ideas, passion, motivation and inspirations. See what makes him tick. Learn his influences. Yet we get very little of that. Instead we get colleagues, critics and collaborators describing him mysteriously and giving a few personal anecdotes.

Now if the film had been more set-up that way, it would have been much more engaging.

I think the film can be beneficial to fans and beginners alike. For beginners an introduction to his cinema and his vision. For fans at least it gives some insight and a little more knowledge about his films. While being reminded of the best from his previous films.

This documentary seems to have been being made around the time of production on his film HOLY MOTORS, So far his last film.

At this point, I am a beginner to his films. Only so far having seen HOLY MOTORS. So at least watching this doc. Inspired me to watch more of his films as a fan of HOLY MOTORS. The documentary was revelatory more about his career then of anything personal

Grade: C