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| Paula Delsol: La Dérive / Drift (FR 1964). Jacqueline Vandal (Jacqueline dite Jacquie Manescu). |
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| Paula Delsol: La Dérive / Drift (FR 1964). Jacqueline Vandal (Jacqueline dite Jacquie Manescu), André Nader (Jean, le pêcheur). |
FR 1964. Year of production: 1963. PC: Les Productions Cinématographique du Languedoc. P: Alexandre (Sacha) Kamenka.
D+SC: Paula Delsol. DP: Jean Malige – b&w – Academy. M: Roger Bène. ED: Agnès Guillemot. Int.: Jacqueline Vandal (Jackie / Jacquie Manescu), Lucien Barjon (Maurice), Paulette Dubost (madre di Jackie), André Nader (Jean), Jean-François Calvé (Régis), Noëlle Noblecourt (Agathe), Pierre Barouh (Pierre), Anne-Marie Coffinet (Claire).
Loc: Paris, le sud de la France, la côte méditerranéenne, Palavas-les-Flots, Camargues.
83 min
Language: French.
Restored in 4K in 2026 by La Cinémathèque française in collaboration with CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée at TransPerfect Media laboratory, from the original 35 mm picture and sound negatives. Funding provided by Neuflize OBC Corporate Foundation.
DCP from: La Cinémathèque Française
Courtesy of: Les Acacias.
English subtitles on the copy by Howard Bunian.
E-subtitles in Italian by SubTi Londra.
Il Cinema Ritrovato, Bologna 2026: Recovered & Restored.
Viewed at Cinema Arlecchino, 26 June 2026.
Hervé Pichard (Bologna 2026): "Despite its powerful dialogue and the realistic beauty of its imagery, the film figures among the forgotten cinematic works that are essential to rediscover. Its innovative style brings to mind the young filmmakers of the New Wave, particularly Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. Rediscovering Paula Delsol and the rare 35 mm prints of her works, one marvels at their surprising modernity but, at the same time, wonders why they have been lost. The film further sets itself apart due to its feminist theme, ahead of its time. In La Dérive, Jacquie, a young woman experiencing family breakdown, is sexually liberated but emotionally dependent on the men she encounters. Through this protagonist, Paula Delsol describes a generation of women who question their place in a relationship, in a family and in society. The work blends a quest for freedom, doubt and danger with the hostile gazes of a still-archaic 1960s France. At the time, very few women are directing films in France. Along with Agnès Varda, Paula Delsol is one of the rare figures to write, produce and direct a feature film far from Paris. She takes on every role: screenwriter, casting director, producer, manager, accountant and filmmaker, all while raising her two children. We cannot but admire her energy and commitment. The film nevertheless receives an enthusiastic reception. Supported by Truffaut, esteemed by Godard and Jean Rouch, Paula Delsol is acknowledged by critics as a member of the New Wave. La Dérive wins the 1964 Grand Prize of film societies and premieres at the Cannes Film Festival. Yet despite such recognition, the film progressively falls into oblivion, and the filmmaker struggles to continue her career. Right up until the very end, Paula Delsol would refuse to be labelled as a “female filmmaker”; she simply wished to be regarded as a filmmaker." Hervé Pichard
AA: Paula Delsol's La Dérive is a stunning rediscovery, like meeting a long-lost important family member from generations ago.
Although Agnès Varda was the mother of the French New Wave and all new waves, the French new wave as a whole was oppressively male-dominated. That was the state of the cinema in general, but one would have expected better from the young generation.
Paula Delson's irreverent approach can be compared with both Agnès Varda and her Czech sister-in-arms Věra Chytilová. La Dérive is a road movie about a young woman's quest, rejecting tradwife life in a conventional family setup and an honest marriage proposal from a local fisherman. Exploring Bohemian life with a wandering musician, sex work with a married middle-aged businessman, rejecting a ménage à trois in a castle complete with an Alfa Romeo, meeting an endless row of alley cats interested in just that one thing. Jacquie was also born that way, but she would expect more.
The most startling aspect is the world of harassment. This is the side of life ignored in films made by men. A woman needs always to be ready to defend herself from harassment from individual males and groups of men. A solitary woman is constantly in a danger zone. It's a man's world.
Like Sans toit ni loi, La Dérive is an existentialist movie about freedom. The search for an alternative is about breaking free from convention and tradition. A freedom without commitment can lead to nothingness. "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose".
The biggest laughter was in the beginning to the "interdit aux moins de 18 ans" notice. There is nothing unsuitable for children in the film.
The cast is excellent, and the cinematography on location is powerful in the tradition of realism.
The restoration is brilliant, and it is a pleasure to enjoy the beautiful cinematography in the classic Academy frame in glorious black and white.
...
La Cinémathèque française 2026: Cinéastes françaises des années 60 et 70
La Dérive
Paula Delsol
France / 1964
Avec Jacqueline Vandal, Lucien Barjon, Paulette Dubost.
Le portrait incandescent d'une jeune femme en rupture avec son milieu familial, déchirée entre désir de liberté et quête de l'amour. En pleine Nouvelle Vague, Paula Delsol signe un film superbe et délibérément féministe, tourné en décors naturels dans les plaines camarguaises. La Dérive fut frappé d'une interdiction aux moins de 18 ans qui scella prématurément le destin cinématographique de sa créatrice.
Film également connu sous le titre Une fille à la dérive.
Sélection officielle Cannes Classics 2026
La Dérive de Paula Delsol a été restauré en 4K en 2026 par la Cinémathèque française, en collaboration avec le CNC, et avec le soutien de la Fondation d'entreprise Neuflize OBC. La restauration a été effectuée au laboratoire Transperfect Media à partir des négatifs 35 mm image et son. Ressortie en salles en janvier 2027 par Les Acacias.
Générique
Réalisateur : Paula Delsol
Scénariste : Paula Delsol
Dialoguiste : Paula Delsol
Société de production : Production Cinématographique du Languedoc
Directeur de production : Alexandre Kamenka
Directeur de la photographie : Jean Malige
Compositeurs de la musique originale : Roger Bène, Christian Donnadieu
Monteur : Agnès Guillemot
Photographe de plateau : André Gueite
Interprètes : Jacqueline Vandal (Jackie), Lucien Barjon (Maurice), Paulette Dubost (La mère de Jackie), Jean-François Calvé (Régis), Noëlle Noblecourt (Agathe), Pierre Barouh (Le guitariste), Anne-Marie Coffinet (Claire), Jean-Loup Reynold, Jules Dussol, Monique Bonnafous, André Nader
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