Cléo from 5 to 7

Cléo from 5 to 7 (French: Cléo de 5 à 7) is a 1962 Rive Gauche film by Agnès Varda. The story starts with a young singer, Florence "Cléo" Victoire, at 5PM June 21, as she waits until 7PM. The film is noted for its handling of several of the themes of existentialism, including discussions of mortality, the idea of despair, and leading a meaningful life. The film has a strong feminine viewpoint and raises questions about how women are perceived. The role of mirrors are prevalent to symbolize self-obsession.

The film includes cameos by Jean-Luc Godard, Anna Karina, Eddie Constantine and Jean-Claude Brialy as characters in the silent film Raoul shows Cleo and Dorothee, while composer Michel Legrand, who wrote the film's score, plays "Bob the pianist". It was entered into the 1962 Cannes Film Festival.^[1]

Plot

Cléo (played by Corinne Marchand) is a pop singer who wanders around Paris while she awaits her medical test results. As Cléo readies herself to meet with her doctor at 7 o'clock, she meets with several friends and strangers while trying to grapple with mortality.

Sensing indifference from those nearest to her, she finds herself questioning the doll-like image people have of her and is overcome by a feeling of solitude and helplessness. She finally finds some comfort in the company of a stranger, who turns out to be a soldier in the Algerian war, she meets in a park (Parc Montsouris) and with whom she is able to have a sincere conversation. He accompanies her to the hospital (Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital), where she will meet the doctor who will give her the results of the exam.

References

External links

• Cléo from 5 to 7 at the Internet Movie Database
• Cleo from 5 to 7 at AllRovi
• Details from the Criterion Collection