The Cinémathèque française — celebrating 90 years and 2 revolutions (rewind)
Summary
This episode explores the history of Paris’s Cinémathèque Française, founded by Henri Langlois, who preserved films during WWII and inspired the French New Wave. The narrative covers Langlois’s eccentric management, his 1968 firing, and the subsequent protests by filmmakers like Truffaut and Godard that fueled the May 1968 revolution. Host Rico Galliano connects this legacy to modern independent theaters, illustrating how unique cinema spaces continue to shape film culture.
Topics discussed
Intro: Cinema Tech Francaise 90th anniversary
Host's nostalgia: The Fulton Theater in Pittsburgh
Season 2 launch: Only in Theaters
Barbet Schroeder's late-night cinema nights
Henri Langlois: Founder and film preservationist
Hiding films from Nazis during WWII
The Cinematheque as an unofficial film school
Influence of Hollywood directors on French New Wave
Ad: The Faust Bible art book release
Reinventing French cinema: The New Wave
The Langlois Affair: Administrative chaos
Langlois fired and the industry backlash
Street protests and the May 68 connection
Langlois reinstated and later years
Modern legacy: Braid Theater in LA
Outro and Season 12 preview
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