The Lesson

The legendary filmmaker praises Jacques Tati’s dedication to getting his films made, reflects on the lessons he learned from Dorothy Arzner when she was his professor, and shares the joy he finds in inspiring new generations of directors.

The Academy Award–winning producer praises Claire Denis’s portrayal of masculinity in Beau travail, talks about the lessons he learned from Luis Buñuel’s producer Serge Silberman, and selects favorites by friends and collaborators, including The Last Wave, The Double Life of...

During his visit to our closet, the Oscar-winning director of Toy Story 3 chatted with us about his nerve-wracking first encounter with Jane Campion and the lessons he learned about editing from All That Jazz.

Jul 15, 2022 — This week we head back to 1981 with Reverse Shot, to the 1970s with Straub-Huillet, and to the 1960s with Marco Bellocchio.

Nov 29, 2018 — The lights may go out at midnight, but we will still be carrying the torch.

Nov 28, 2018 — The career of one of Italy’s greatest directors was riddled with scandal and accolades.

Aug 18, 2003 — The third installment in Ingmar Bergman’s trilogy about religious faith sees the auteur coming to terms with the pious rigidity and strangled emotional life of his own upbringing.

May 12, 2025 — Daniel Kehlmann’s new novel The Director reimagines the life of G. W. Pabst, and there’s a minor role in it for Leni Riefenstahl.

Nov 21, 2022 — Straub and his life and filmmaking partner Danièle Huillet have been described as “cinema’s conscience.”

Nov 17, 2021 — Having won major prizes in Berlin and Cannes, the director has been talking openly about his background, influences, and working methods.