Dossier de presse « Lola - Ciné-Tamaris

SEEING Lola
I have seen Lola many times throughout my life, but I truly discovered it during the color grading
of this restored version.
Like all the films I love, I had never managed to «dissect» it, to focus on the directorial aspects in
an attempt to understand where this incredible charm emanating from Raoul Coutard’s black and
white shots comes from… I’d get caught up in the story every time, and the film would end with
me telling myself that I’d just have to do it next time…
Then I saw the film again, very close up, with the Technicolor team in Los Angeles, going over each
scene to refine the picture settings. It offered a different perspective: under a microscope.
As far as the magic goes, I still can’t understand it! I think I’ll have to give up trying to explain
it, but I did notice the series of (barely perceptible) tracking shots of the lovers in the Passage
Pommeraye, the choice of strong contrasts, due to a lack of means for lighting the interiors, the
amazing DIY of the Eldorado song, and once again, I savoured the unforgettable lines of the lovely
Lola: “Touch it! I washed my hair... It’s like silk!”
It is a moving experience for me to immerse myself again today in Jacques’ first film, which he
wanted to give me before he died, at a time when I have also just had my first experience as a
director...
My role was to contribute to making the film visible in contemporary screening conditions,
without betraying the “colour” of the era.
Many thanks to Séverine and Gilles, and I look forward to the public release!
Mathieu Demy
31 May 2012
LOLA I 65