“Jane by Charlotte” Being a Mother and an Eternal Daughter

"Jane by Charlotte" synopsis

2018, Tokyo. Charlotte Gainsbourg has started filming her mother, Jane Birkin. Up until now, the feelings of reserve that accompany being in front of others have distorted the relationship between mother and daughter. A mother and daughter felt a distance, even though it had nothing to do with their will. After Jane left Serge and left home, Charlotte, who grew up with her father, had something she wanted to ask Jane. She wonders about her three half-sisters, the suspicion that she loved her eldest daughter Kate more than her second daughter, and what her life was like as a public figure, mother, and woman. Charlotte faces The Truth about her mother for the first time through the lens of a camera.

Index

• an excuse to get to know you
• mankey's diary
• Exchange of “voices” from childhood
• eternal daughter

an excuse to get to know you

``I was so happy and happy that Charlotte was interested in me...What mother wouldn't think so?'' (Jane Birkin)*1

Chigasakikan is known as Yasujiro Ozu's regular lodging. The absolute nature of this documentary stands out when Jane Birkin and Charlotte Gainsbourg sit across the table from each other. ``Jane by Charlotte'' (21) does not approach the legend of Jane Birkin from a journalistic perspective. Charlotte continues to cast a very personal gaze on Jane. Charlotte has had a long-standing crush on Jane. Charlotte candidly confronts her mother with questions about her sense of distance, which is different from her half-sisters Kate Barry and Lou Doillon. Unlike Kate and Lou, why are there reservations between us?

Jane seems somewhat confused by her daughter's direct question. Jane tries to remain calm, but her emotions are spilling out in the margins of her words. There is an area in front of the camera that no third party can ever enter. In fact, after finishing filming in Japan, the film has entered a two-year freeze period. The filming of this film was far too sensitive for Jane. At that time, Charlotte even felt guilty. However, when they reviewed the footage two years later, Jane found that the scenes shot in Japan were even ``beautiful.''

“Jane by Charlotte” © 2021 NOLITA CINEMA – DEADLY VALENTINE PUBLISHING / ReallyLikeFilms

At this moment, Jane is reconsidering the image, first as a spectator, and secondly, perhaps, as a filmmaker. Jane has directed several films, including short films. Above all, he has the experience of producing his own ``self-portrait'' film `` Agnès v. Jane B. '' (1988) with his ally Agnès Varda. The original title of ``Jane Par Jane by Charlotte'' is a clear homage to the original title of ``Jane B. par Agnès V.''.

`` Jane B. by Agnes V. '' can be said to be a film about a painter (Agnès Varda) and a model (Jane Birkin). This is a movie in which the filmmaker uses his camera to release the anxieties of actors. When Jane says that she can't help but feel anxious about being 40 years old, the older Varda replies, ``That's ridiculous. Isn't it a wonderful age!''

There is a scene in ``Jane by Charlotte'' where Jane talks frankly but humorously about getting older. Jane has words and attitudes that she wants to leave behind for Charlotte. Charlotte also has a strong motive to want to know about her relationship with Jane. Here is the miraculous interaction that occurs for the first time when a mother and daughter stand side by side.

As Charlotte says, ``The camera is an excuse to get to know my mother.'' Through the camera, the two get to know each other. The camera is also a ``recording (memory) device'' that is deeply connected to the Birkin and Gainsbourg families.

mankey's diary