Screens of the World

Photographic Memory

by Ross McELWEE

Infos

Original title : Photographic Memory

Director : Ross McELWEE

Production : French Connection Films

Duration : 84 Minutes

Year : 2011

Original version : French, English

Dubbed version : French, English

Country : USA

Synopsis

American documentary filmmaker Ross McElwee finds himself in frequent conflict with his son Adrian, who is no longer the delightful child he loved, but an argumentative young adult. He undertakes a journey to St. Quay- Portrieux in Brittany where he worked for a spring as a wedding photographer’s assistant at the age of 24 – slightly older than his son is now. He has not been back to St. Quay since that visit, and hopes to gain some perspective on what his own life was like when he was his son’s age. He also hopes to track down his former employer, a fascinating Frenchman named Maurice, and Maud, a woman with whom he was romantically involved during that spring 38 years ago. Photographic Memory is a meditation on the passing of time, the praxis of photography and film, digital versus analog, and the fractured love of a father for his son.

Awards

Official selections

  • Cinéma du Réel Paris 2012
  • BAFICI 2012
  • 2011 Venice Film Festival 
  • 2011 Doclisboa Film Festival (Portugal)
  • 2011 Copenhagen Film Festival
  • 2011 Mar Del Plata Film Festival
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