Henry Chapier (found films by French director; late 1960s-early 1970s): Difference between revisions

From The Lost Media Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
No edit summary
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Henry Chapier''' is a noted French journalist, film critic, and television personality. During the late 1960's and early 1970's, he also had a brief stint as a filmmaker, producing a total of four films. Two of these, ''Un été américain'' and ''Salut, Jerusalem'', were documentaries, while the other two, ''Sex Power'' and ''Amore'', are abstract allegorical works. In addition, three of these films (''Sex Power'', ''Salut, Jerusalem'', and ''Amore'') are notable in part for their soundtracks, which were early efforts by noted composer Vangelis, best known for his scores to such films as ''Chariots of Fire'' and ''Blade Runner''. Unfortunately for Chapier, none of his films were given a very wide release or much promotion, and soon faded into obscurity. It was not until around 2009, when the French National Audiovisual Institute, or INA, located copies of the films and re-mastered them for general release, that any of them saw the light of day again. Nowadays, Chapier's entire filmography is publically available on DVD, with ''Un été américain'' and ''Sex Power'' being released in 2010, and ''Salut, Jerusalem'' and ''Amore'' being released in 2012
{{InfoboxFound
|title=<center>Henry Chapier's filmography</center>
|image=HenryChapierPortrait.jpg
|imagecaption=Henry Chapier, a reputable French journalist.
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|datefound=2009
|foundby=[https://institut.ina.fr/en French National Audiovisual Institute (INA)]
}}
'''Henry Chapier''' is a noteworthy French journalist, film critic, and television personality.<ref>https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2019/01/27/97001-20190127FILWWW00104-henry-chapier-est-mort.php</ref> During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he briefly worked as a filmmaker on a total of four films. Two of these, ''Un été Américain'' and ''Salut, Jerusalem'', are documentaries, while the other two, ''Sex Power'' and ''Amore'', are abstract, allegorical works. Three of these films (''Sex Power'', ''Salut, Jerusalem'', and ''Amore'') are notable in part for their soundtracks, which were early efforts by noted composer Vangelis, best known for his scores for ''Chariots of Fire'' and ''Blade Runner''.  


==Un été américain==
None of his films were given a wide release and soon faded into obscurity. In 2009, the French National Audiovisual Institute, or INA, located copies of the films and began to remaster them for general release. Now, Chapier's entire filmography is publicly available on DVD: ''Un été Américain'' and ''Sex Power'' were released in 2010, and ''Salut, Jerusalem'' and ''Amore'' being released in 2012.


Chapier's first film, released in 1969, was ''Un été américain'' (French for "An American Summer"), a documentary on a group of young Californian militants affiliated with the Black Panthers. In his film, Chapier evocates solidarity for the militants, and while he does not directly question the group's goals, he questions their methods. The documentary features footage of the protests that accompanied the trial of Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton, as well as examinations of the militants' lifestyle intercut with interviews with the group's members.
==Film Summaries==
Chapier's first film, ''Un été Américain'' (French for "An American Summer") in 1969, was a documentary about a group of young Californian militants affiliated with the Black Panthers. In his film, Chapier focuses on solidarity for the militants, questioning their methods rather than their motives. The documentary features footage of the protests that accompanied the trial of Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton as well as footage of the militants' lifestyle intercut with interviews with the group's members.


==Sex Power==
Chapier's second renowned film was ''Sex Power'', released in 1970. The film is an abstract, allegorical drama about the peace movement of the late 1960s and why it was doomed to fail. It was Chapier's first collaboration with Vangelis and was such the director's only film to include an official soundtrack album. When shown at the 1970 San Sebastian Film Festival (at which Fritz Lang was reportedly one of the judges) the film won the Silver Shell prize.<ref>https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/1970/awards_and_jury_members/awards/1/63/in</ref>


Chapier's second, and probably best-known, film was ''Sex Power'', released in 1970 and starring Alain Noury and Jane Birkin. Despite the title, ''Sex Power'' is not a soft-core porn film as was frequently believed by film historians prior to its rediscovery, but rather an abstract allegorical drama about the peace movement of the late 1960's and why it was doomed to fail. It was Chapier's first collaboration with Vangelis, and as such was the director's only film to include an official soundtrack album. When shown at the 1970 San Sebastian Film Festival, at which Fritz Lang was reportedly one of the judges, the film won the Silver Shell prize. These two factors may have prevented it from falling into total obscurity like Chapier's other features.
Chapier's ''Salut, Jerusalem'' (French for "Hail Jerusalem") from 1972 is a documentary about Tel Aviv. Chapier makes the location serve as the main character, as the interview subjects serve a symbolic purpose for the film. Due to its short length (approx. 30 minutes), it is unknown if ''Salut, Jerusalem'' was ever shown theatrically, or whether it was only broadcast on television.


==Salut, Jerusalem==
Chapier's final film, ''Amore'', is released in 1973 and stars Daniel Quenaud and Sonia Petrovna. ''Amore'' is another abstract, allegorical drama about the decline of the city of Venice and the various attempts throughout history to "rescue" it. Perhaps the film's most striking feature, aside from Vangelis' soundtrack, is its opening and ending credits sequences, which are presented over a series of surrealist paintings of Venice.


For his third filmmaking effort, released in 1972, Chapier directed ''Salut, Jerusalem'' (French for "Hail Jerusalem"), a documentary on the people of Israel and in particular the titular capital city. Using a technique employed in his other films, Chapier makes the location essentially the main character, while the interview subjects serve an almost symbolic purpose in the film. Due to its short length of under 30 minutes, it is unknown if ''Salut, Jerusalem'' was ever shown theatrically, or whether it was only broadcast on television.
==References==
{{reflist}}


==Amore==
==External Links==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Chapier Wikipedia article.] Retrieved 19 Mar '16
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0152149/ IMDb page for Henry Chapier.] Retrieved 19 Mar '16
*http://www.henry-chapier.com/
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0351914/ IMDB page for ''Un été Américain''.]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066358/ IMDB page for ''Sex Power''.]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069211/ IMDB page for ''Salut, Jerusalem''.]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069708/ IMDB page for ''Amore''.]
*http://www.ina.fr/


Chapier's final film, ''Amore'', was released in 1973 and stars Daniel Quenaud and Sonia Petrovna. Much like ''Sex Power'', ''Amore'' is also an abstract allegorical drama, this time about the decline of the city of Venice and the various attempts throughout history to "rescue" it. Perhaps the film's most striking feature, aside from Vangelis' soundtrack, is its opening and ending credits sequences, which are presented over a series of surrealist paintings of Venice. Not much is known about ''Amore'''s release history aside from it being made available on DVD in 2012.
[[Category:Found media]]
[[Category:Found films]]
[[Category:Pre-LMW]]

Latest revision as of 13:04, 4 February 2024

HenryChapierPortrait.jpg

Henry Chapier, a reputable French journalist.

Status: Found

Date found: 2009

Found by: French National Audiovisual Institute (INA)

Henry Chapier is a noteworthy French journalist, film critic, and television personality.[1] During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he briefly worked as a filmmaker on a total of four films. Two of these, Un été Américain and Salut, Jerusalem, are documentaries, while the other two, Sex Power and Amore, are abstract, allegorical works. Three of these films (Sex Power, Salut, Jerusalem, and Amore) are notable in part for their soundtracks, which were early efforts by noted composer Vangelis, best known for his scores for Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner.

None of his films were given a wide release and soon faded into obscurity. In 2009, the French National Audiovisual Institute, or INA, located copies of the films and began to remaster them for general release. Now, Chapier's entire filmography is publicly available on DVD: Un été Américain and Sex Power were released in 2010, and Salut, Jerusalem and Amore being released in 2012.

Film Summaries

Chapier's first film, Un été Américain (French for "An American Summer") in 1969, was a documentary about a group of young Californian militants affiliated with the Black Panthers. In his film, Chapier focuses on solidarity for the militants, questioning their methods rather than their motives. The documentary features footage of the protests that accompanied the trial of Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton as well as footage of the militants' lifestyle intercut with interviews with the group's members.

Chapier's second renowned film was Sex Power, released in 1970. The film is an abstract, allegorical drama about the peace movement of the late 1960s and why it was doomed to fail. It was Chapier's first collaboration with Vangelis and was such the director's only film to include an official soundtrack album. When shown at the 1970 San Sebastian Film Festival (at which Fritz Lang was reportedly one of the judges) the film won the Silver Shell prize.[2]

Chapier's Salut, Jerusalem (French for "Hail Jerusalem") from 1972 is a documentary about Tel Aviv. Chapier makes the location serve as the main character, as the interview subjects serve a symbolic purpose for the film. Due to its short length (approx. 30 minutes), it is unknown if Salut, Jerusalem was ever shown theatrically, or whether it was only broadcast on television.

Chapier's final film, Amore, is released in 1973 and stars Daniel Quenaud and Sonia Petrovna. Amore is another abstract, allegorical drama about the decline of the city of Venice and the various attempts throughout history to "rescue" it. Perhaps the film's most striking feature, aside from Vangelis' soundtrack, is its opening and ending credits sequences, which are presented over a series of surrealist paintings of Venice.

References

External Links