Cleo from 5 to 7

The drama Cleo from 5 to 7 had already attracted considerable acclaim at the 1962 Cannes IFF. French critics called it „a delicate, dazzling film that resembles a deeply felt lament“. Varda attempted to express one of the most compelling feelings of people of her generation, a sense of insecurity, inner turmoil and fear. The heroine of the film, the beautiful popular singer Cléo, believes she has cancer. A laboratory examination is to confirm or refute her assumption. Until Cléo becomes certain of her condition, she experiences a martyrdom of anxiety, compounded by the fact that no one believes her, no one shares her fear. Although she is surrounded by people, she is completely alone. That is why she clings so eagerly to the strange young man who approaches her in the park and who is the only one who understands her condition. It's no coincidence: the young man is a soldier fighting in Algeria. He too is in constant danger of death – and this brings them closer together. The main roles are played by Corinne Marchand, Dominique Davray and Antoine Bourseiller, with Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina appearing in cameo roles.