Well, well, Welles !
 

PostED ON 16.10.2025

© DR
Orson Welles, The One-Man Band (1995)

THE SUBJECT: The 1995 recounting of the final years of the life of the filmmaker, actor, illusionist and mystic who had passed away ten years beforehand.

THE METHOD: Accompanied by a voice-over, this documentary alternates between archival footage, photographs, film clips, testimonials, and scenes shot for the occasion, notably by Oja Kodar (who is also co-director), the last spouse of Welles.

BONUS: Towering and gigantic, Orson Welles makes his way through the crowd to receive an award from the American Film Institute. In his speech, he declares, ‘My heart is full...’.

This film is a portrait of one of the most multifaceted figures in international cinema, and thus by definition, inevitably elusive. With a genuine sense of amusement, we listen to Welles and discover his 1,001 unfinished projects, including Moby Dick and The Merchant of Venice. We wander through his abandoned, graffiti-ridden house, where a few handwritten sheets by the American filmmaker are still strewn across the floor. Returning to this film today means asking ourselves questions about creativity, in all its forms, void of elitism, focusing solely on the need to express oneself, regardless of the format. In this endeavour, Welles's extraordinary personality is our witty and inventive guide.

Virginie Apiou

Orson Welles, l'homme-orchestre by Vassili Silovic et Oja Kodar (Orson Welles: The One-Man Band, 1995, 1h28)
Institut Lumière (Villa) Thu 16 2pm | Institut Lumière (Villa) Thu 16 2:15pm