There's no such thing as an anti-war film.
Francois TruffautRead
I demand that a film express either the joy of making cinema or the agony of making cinema. I am not at all interested in anything in between.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Truffaut emphasizes that cinema must convey deep emotional experiences, whether joyful or agonizing.
In this quote, Francois Truffaut expresses his belief that films should evoke strong emotions, either reflecting the joy of creating art or the struggles associated with it. He argues that anything less than these extremes fails to capture the true essence of filmmaking, which is inherently tied to profound human experiences. This perspective invites audiences to engage with cinema on a deeper level, appreciating the emotional and artistic journey that filmmakers undertake.
Themes
CinemaEmotionArtJoyAgonyFilmmaking
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a film study class to prompt discussion about the emotional range in cinema.
More from Francois Truffaut
All quotes →But the cinephile is … a neurotic! (That’s not a pejorative term.) The Bronte sisters were neurotic, and it’s because they were neurotic that they read all those books and became writers. The famous French advertising slogan that says, “When you love life, you go to the movies,” it’s false! It’s exactly the opposite: when you don’t love life, or when life doesn’t give you satisfaction, you go to the movies.
Francois TruffautRead
I love the way she projects two facets: a visible persona and a subterranean one. She keeps her thoughts to herself; she seems to suggest that her secret, inner life is at least as significant as the appearance she gives.
Francois TruffautRead
I want my audience to be constantly captivated, bewitched, so that it leaves the theatre dazed, stunned to be back on the pavement.
Francois TruffautRead
To be a film-maker, you are almost forced to be surrounded by contradictions... You must have talents of so many different kinds - talents that are contradictory.
Francois TruffautRead
The film of tomorrow will not be directed by civil servants of the camera, but by artists for whom shooting a film constitutes a wonderful and thrilling adventure.
Francois TruffautRead
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Overacting is a self-indulgence, while underacting comes either through a lack of talent or a lack of courage.
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