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Alexandra Stewart, Florence Delay, Arielle Dombasle, Riyoko Ikeda, Charlotte Kerr ... see more see more... , Kim Novak , James Stewart

Titled after a song cycle by Mussorgsky, Sans Soleil is a 1982 nonlinear essay film by elusive documentary filmmaker Chris Marker. It's a collage of images gathered from Japan, Africa, Iceland, San Fr... read more read more...ancisco, and France -- all presented without direct sound. The soundtrack consists of occasional spells of electronic music while an unseen woman's voice (Alexandra Stewart) narrates letters written by a possibly fictional traveler in poetic verse. Beginning with the phrase "He wrote me," each segment explores some philosophical inquiry of matters as broad as modern culture, technology, consciousness, Japanese television, and even the act of filming itself. Some of the first images include children in Iceland, a ferry in Hokkido, a carnival in Guinea-Bissau, girls in Cape Verde, and a shrine to cats in Tokyo. There's also a creepy JFK robot, petrified animals left by desert drought, and teenagers dancing in a public square. The seemingly miscellaneous footage is made up of archive clips, synthesized video sequences, and some images collected by Marker's colleagues. It's randomly assembled, jumping from one continent to another in the same breath. It remains one of the director's masterpiece accomplishments. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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88% liked it

3,529 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

12 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Chris Marker

Release Date: February 1, 1983

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DVD Release Date: June 16, 1993

Stats: 259 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (259)

  • 366weirdmovies
    April 15, 2012
    366weirdmovies
    Difficult-to-describe, stream-of-consciousness essay travelogue; essentially, it's an arthouse mondo movie. Remarkable images include the disturbing slaughter of a giraffe and a Japanese temple devoted to ceramic cats; it seems random, but every shot is accompanied by a keen obs... read moreervation on culture and humanity. Dreamlike, floating, and poetic, it's a must-see for the intelligent and adventurous viewer.
  • ythelastman89
    March 2, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Incredibly bizarre way to present a documentary, but it's very effective. It's almost as if the film itself had ADHD and was constantly switching topics and moving around in order to stay entertained. There are some great shots of Japan and I actually feel like I learned a tremen... read moredous amount about the culture.
  • fb1142797643
    March 10, 2012
    fb1142797643
    "Sans Soleil" deserves academic respect, but this is among the most exasperatingly tedious films I've ever sat through. At least it's unusual -- the most apt comparison may be "Koyaaniqatsi," as director Chris Marker's camera roams through Japan, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Paris and... read more San Francisco capturing documentary glimpses of local culture. Ceremonial rites of Tokyo are especially prominent. As with "Koyaaniqatsi," the film is artfully detached and stresses editing rhythm as much as thematic content. No problem so far, but then comes the narration. You'll never see a movie where you wish so much that the narrator would simply shut her yap. The text takes the stilted form of a monotone female quoting letters from a fictionalized cameraman, so the ideas are constantly prefaced with "He wrote that..." and "He wrote me that...." This tic grows old fast. And all the heady philosophizing (memory over time is the dominant motif) is so maddeningly dense and persistent that the accompanying images never get a chance to breathe. What an exhausting film. And unlike "Koyaaniqatsi," it doesn't even have a strong score. Little beyond bubbling synthesizer effects.

    A caution to sensitive parties: Some borrowed footage of a giraffe being gunned down is extremely disturbing.
  • fb208103125
    March 2, 2012
    fb208103125
    This is Chris Marker's free form travelogue that was released in 1983 (RT is wrong about it being released in 2002) and is a meditation of life on earth and societies impact on man. While this is a film that most modern audiences would be lost with and probably bored by, "Sans S... read moreoleil" is an artistic documentary that is a multiple layered conceptual look into society and mankind as a whole. The film uses a combination of film elements including archival footage, nature footage, animal kingdom footage and mostly of man living in their own world. This is a thinking man's documentary and is both serious and humorous as it explored such topics as sexuality, capitalism, and our basic human desires. The film is narrated by Florence Delay and her calming voice overlaps most shots in the film and along with the meditative score, really add a sense of calm to the overall feel of the movie. All of this adds up to a deeply personal yet equally immersive experience for the viewer. Be warned that there are scenes of both graphic nudity, sexual content, and other mature topics throughout the film.
  • robfearon
    May 4, 2010
    robfearon
    Sans Soleil is more intuitive than rational, so proceed with caution.
  • smootysveen
    September 11, 2007
    smootysveen
    I can't even write about this. It just has to be experienced.
  • rainmonkey13
    April 28, 2012
    rainmonkey13
    i fell asleep because of her voice, it did have very intersting parts about it but i wouldnt watch to watch it again unless i was trying to fall asleep
  • RicC
    October 12, 2010
    RicC
    I'd tried seeing the first half this film at least three times before and was about to give up this last time. Mundane Asia- and Africa-centered images and narrating are just so fascinating, guys!

    Clearly this was not cut out for myself, as I think it's grossly outdated and naiv... read moree. As in, much of the footage focuses on banality and the philosophy about spacetime is sophomoric, lacking an interesting punch. The film depends heavily on its excursionist style, which I think most people took a liking to, but that doesn't really present itself as something worthwhile in my opinion. Point-less.
  • curlykeysgirl
    August 20, 2008
    curlykeysgirl
    VERY smart movie chock-full of epiphanies with a very tidy, circular ending... or is it the beginning? Only negative would be the length - I get it already.
  • edgewaterz
    February 17, 2008
    edgewaterz
    When Japan was still a conundrum to the west, this would have been fascinating. But if you have any modern experience with the East this is a heavy-handed boor.

View All Sans soleil (Sunless) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Curiel
November 21, 2003
Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle

Unforgettable movie. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
March 9, 2012
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

The amazing Sans Soleil more or less documents a trip to Tokyo, focusing on small moments and rituals as well as agreements between subject and camera. Full Review

Eric Melin
February 23, 2012
Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers.com

It challenges you to look at images with multiple contexts and ponder differing perspectives, which is really what film is all about in the end. Full Review

Tim Brayton
September 12, 2007
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

Sans soleil is more intuitive than rational, and that makes it a singular, overpowering experience. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
June 12, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

There's little chance such a bizarre thinking man's film will have a wide appeal, but for those it reaches this is a one of a kind masterpiece. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
November 21, 2003
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner

Sans Soleil makes up a tapestry of memories that questions the entire nature of memory, while celebrating that of cinema.

Phil Hall
October 2, 2003
Phil Hall, Film Threat

For masochists only. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

December 30, 2006
Empire Magazine

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