Who is Michel Gondry? [Indie Wire]

Michel Gondry is a French filmmaker most famous for directing and co-writing the 2004 film ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ for which he, Charlie Kaufman, and Pierre Bismuth won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Prior to his feature film debut titled ‘Human Nature,’ he made a name for himself as a music video director-working with such artists as Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Bjork, and The White Stripes. He often incorporates his personal thoughts and fears from his childhood into his work-most notably, a recurring nightmare in which his hands grow to an enormous size.
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This video essay was written, edited, and narrated by Tyler Knudsen.
Clips used:
‘Human Nature’ (2001 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘The Science of Sleep’ (2006 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Be Kind Rewind’ (2008 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘The Green Hornet’ (2011 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘The We and the I’ (2012 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Mood Indigo’ (2013 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Microbe & Gasoline’ (2015 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Dave Chappelle’s Block Party’ (2005 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘The Thorn in the Heart’ (2009 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?’ (2013 dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Around the World’ by Daft Punk (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Let Forever Be’ by The Chemical Brothers (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘The Hardest Button to Button’ by The White Stripes (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Human Behavior’ by Björk (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Bachelorette’ by Björk (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Everlong’ by Foo Fighters (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Drugstore’ by Levi’s (Commercial dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Junior Et Sa Voix D’Or’ by Oui Oui (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Dance Tonight’ by Paul McCartney (Music Video dir. Michel Gondry)
‘Be Kind Rewind Sweded Trailer’
‘Taxi Driver Sweded by Michel Gondry’
‘I’ve Been 12 Forever’ (2004 dir. Michel Gondry)
Music:
‘Generique Stephane’ by Jean-Michel Bernard
‘Around the World’ by Daft Punk
‘If You Rescue Me’ Science of Sleep Sountrack
‘Theme’ by Jon Brion

[@danielalfonso6490]

Man His quote at the end speaks to me so much. Great inspiration.

[@hgwells1899]

Eternal Sunshine easily one of my all time top 10 (if there could be such a thing). Bachelorette, not my favorite Bjork song, but the video I most regularly rewatch. Amusing (to me) story: about a year after I split from the love of my life (who was forever redying her hair and who put me thru such exquisite hell), I desired to watch again the movie that was just so us (yes, I'm a glutton for punishment). At the HMV store I searched high and low but to no avail. Finally, an assistant, eyeing me suspiciously as I loitered self-consciously at the racks, asked which movie I was looking for. "It stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet," I said. "Really? In a film together?! Hmn. What's it about..?" "It's about this bloke...he splits up from his girlfriend. He decides to have his memory erased-" "His memory erased? Why?" "Well...his memory of HER erased. Because he finds out...she's had it done too." "Ooookayyy...and what's it called?" Pause. Blink. "I - I can't remember." Me, going full-on Joel in the middle of the store : \ Happy days

[@CinemaTyler]

Hehe, sounds like the beginning of a sequel. ;) It's so strange how movies like that somehow help me get through hard times.

[@nnamdre6612]

If they ever remake wizard of Oz, he should do it.

[@DrunkenM33rkat]

Great video, would love to see more of these. So many underrated directors who don't get enough attention, Kelly Reichardt is the most overlooked in my book.

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks! This is part of an older series I did for Indie Wire. The exclusivity license is up and I'm using it as an opportunity to clean them up a bit and post them during those stretches between new videos. Stay tuned for more! I've only seen Wendy and Lucy. I'll have to check out some of her others!

[@austinthaijam7009]

beautiful tribute to my favorite director. thanks tyler. respect from austin, tx

[@sniddlegrass4101]

Thanks for informing me of some of Michel's other works. I am aware of this man, especially from Eternal Sunshine and "Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy?". I was however unaware of his music videos and his movie "The Science of Sleep". Thank you!

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks for watching! The Science of Sleep was wonderful. I think it's his most personal film. He wrote and directed it and you really get this sense that you're climbing inside his head and seeing the world through his eyes.

[@antivalidisme5669]

I watched "Microbe & Gasoline" about 2 years ago knowing nothing about the movie and its director. And I was amazed by the esthetic, both unreal and close to me. After the projection, I looked at the poster and laughed so hard when I noticed it was a Gondry's movie. To be honest I'm not a fan of his Boris Vian's adaptation but it was such a nightmare to adapt, at least he tried and his style didn't betray the book in my humble opinion. Well I'm a random scientist and Vian's fan so it's really hard for me to analyze the reasons why I didn't enjoy this particular movie while I loved "Eternal..." and "The Science of Sleep". Anyway great chan, great videos and thank you so much for your Kubrick series.

[@CinemaTyler]

I was lucky enough to attend a screening of Microbe & Gasoline where Gondry gave a Q&A afterward. He is such a unique filmmaker. His Instagram feed is great too!

[@ALonelyWeeaboo]

Great job. I actually showed this to a friend to explain who Michel Gondry is.

[@Pataganja]

That last clip really inspired me

[@Roman-ey3yi]

I think you could go deeper. You just talked about his awards, what movies he made and what there plots were. I reckon you would produce better content if you allowed yourself to look at a moment in one of Gondry's films and discussed attached themes or ideas more accutely.

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks for the suggestion. This is from an older series I did for Indie Wire that was basically an introduction to the work and beginnings of various filmmakers. I would love to do something more in-depth on some of Gondry's films someday!

[@ruukaoz]

Thank you for this video :)

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks for watching!

[@GoatyHerps]

I love this man.

[@Aristadoe]

Nice!

[@VIK_1903]

Pardon my french, but this was inspiring as fuck.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

I loved Science of Sleep. Be King Rewind was cool until in the middle of the movie it become a movie about Jazz music which I really had no interest in

[@ywprok]

Hell o from Russia

[@CinemaTyler]

Hi!

[@laika6661]

The Science of Sleep is by far my all time favourite movie and criminally underrated. I'm glad you did a video about this guy.

[@StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

I've likely watched "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" about seven or eight times since it was released. It's a fascinating film in that the visuals communicate the whimsical giddiness of a new relationship... and yet it is also able to deal with the 'existential pathos' that ends up permeating almost all new romantic relationships at some point. The deconstructing of this 'whimsical giddiness' is brilliantly reflected in the visual style of Michel Gondry's film. What I take away from the film is that we all have to face our own bull$hit and self-deception at some point... and we either face it within the parameters of a relationship... or else we face it alone (à la post-relationship depression/wreckage). The world certainly is not a 'nice place'... especially for someone as innately creative and inventive as Michel Gondry. Having said that I'm truly happy that he has carved out his own cinematic voice within the space-time continuum.

[@CinemaTyler]

His style really lent itself perfectly to the story. I saw him talk at a screening of Microbe & Gasoline and his passion for film and all things creative is infectious. I love how he injects his unique personality into everything he does.

[@handyuchiha]

"The science of sleep" and "Eternal sunshine" is amazing films, i think he should do more project with charlie kaufman

[@CinemaTyler]

They are perfect together. You should definitely check out Human Nature if you haven't already. It's a fun movie.

[@handyuchiha]

CinemaTyler it has been in my watchlist since forever, keep forgetting to watch it

[@rajneessingh222]

More like Charlie should do more projects with Gondry.

[@best4businesswrestling]

the science of sleep is so good, but its all how u imagine the story which is amazing

[@chopin65]

It's so true. In all arts, and writing too. It comes down to oneself. If you know yourself, your voice, and it is strong, the work will be strong and true. Great work, Tyler! I hope you will be him one day!

[@DevaLuysterburg]

Interesting! I like Mood Indigo, the fantastic psychedelic novel L'Ecume des jours by Boris Vian.

[@etothemajor]

Love that statement he makes at the end. Thanks for the video Tyler!

[@CinemaTyler]

Those are such inspiring words. Sometimes you just need allow yourself to create. Thanks for watching!

[@CorduroyPaco]

Michel is one of my favourite filmmakers and I got to meet him at the Toronto International Film Festival when Dave Chapelle's Block Party premiered there...lovely guy! I always look forward to whatever he does from movies to his construction paper stop motion instagram posts!

[@salvadorpereira5084]

thanks for the video, great work

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks!

[@uaena182]

science of sleep.. one of my all time fave

[@NathanRichan]

He also did the video for Radiohead's Knives Out

[@CinemaTyler]

I love that video! I wanted to use some of it for this video, but it was strangely left out of the Michel Gondry Directors Label DVD where I got my clips from. :/

[@auburnkit]

whoa, nice tDR logo. I've been listening to a ton of wipeout music. Love what they did with those early games

[@InnokentiyIvanov-i6g]

Be kind rewind very enjoyable movie.

[@CinemaTyler]

As someone who made tons of little movies as a kid and later worked in a video store, I loved the concept. Gondry is so great at bringing out that child-like creativity.

[@christoohunders5316]

Gondry is capable of pure genius and ... pure disappointment, I'm afraid he accepts too many projects, but overall you were right to do a snippet about his work as some of it is really amazing.

[@nintendolegoboy]

Which of his films do you think are worth watching? Thanks.

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Very cool director. Good visuals and action and pioneer of the 'Bullet Time'.

[@destructor031]

thank you! just want a i need it! :)

[@charleslord2433]

He blew my mind with the Levi's commercial when it aired and I've been a fan ever since!

[@soccerandtrack10]

I thought it said michael condrey,as in dead space.

[@btul2569]

very creative man! mood indigo is my favourite