Originally a series of eight video essays on the history and concept of cinema, and its interaction with the greater world — and the magnum opus of Godard’s career — this edited version is a condensation-cum-summation of sorts. It’s also a reconfiguration as Godard creates a comparatively simpler account of his relationship to cinema, acting as a testament to his love for film. It retains the multi-layered aspects of the original episodes; text and multiple images are overlaid, while sound effects vie for attention with music, dialogue and poetry recitations on the soundtrack. Incorporating elements of autobiography and criticism, even in this contracted version the Histoire(s) are a work of huge scope, the history of the medium told through the medium.

Michel Ciment will introduce the screening.