In early 2015, Tim was reading a book of critical analyses of the films of the Dardenne brothers, and it referred to two volumes of Luc Dardenne’s journals. He immediately searched online to buy them and was disappointed to learn that they were never translated into English.
Now, four years and three translators later, with help from the French Cultural Ministry’s prestigious CNL grant, Luc Dardenne’s On the Back of Our Images, Vol. 1 is now available for pre-order!
On The Back Of Our Images, Vol. 1 includes Luc’s journals from 1991-2005 along with the shooting scripts of three films co-written with his brother Jean-Pierre Dardenne—The Son, The Child, and Lorna’s Silence. It reveals a master artist’s mind at work, from conceptualization through collaboration and execution.
But don’t take our word for it. Martin Scorsese has this to say about our newest book:
"I’m a great admirer of Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. When their pictures begin, they appear to be very simple and casually observed. By the time you get to the end, you realize that every single element of the cinema has been carefully integrated and calibrated, converging on a single point of redemptive illumination. This collection of Luc Dardenne’s shooting diaries and the scripts of three of their best pictures gives us a very special look at the shared creative process of these truly spiritual artists."
And massive gratitude to Facets for partnering with us to celebrate the book’s release! Join us June 16 at 2pm at Facets to celebrate the book’s release with a screening of Rosetta and a post-show discussion hosted by Robert B. Pippin, the Evelyn Stefansson Nef Distinguished Service Professor of Social Thought, Philosophy, and in the College at the University of Chicago.
Not only for cinephiles, On the Back of Our Images is essential reading for creators and observers of any discipline. The journals are masterfully translated by Jeffrey Zuckerman and the screenplays are translated by our very own managing editor, Sammi, with beautiful watercolor cover paintings by Chicago’s Dmitry Samarov.