Kung Fu Master (film)
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''Kung Fu Master'' (stylised as ''Kung-fu Master!'', also known as ''Le petit amour'' in France) is a 1988 French
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
directed by
Agnès Varda Agnès Varda (; born Arlette Varda; 30 May 1928 – 29 March 2019) was a Belgian-born French film director, screenwriter, photographer, and artist. Her pioneering work was central to the development of the widely influential French New Wave film ...
. It was selected to compete for the
Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The winn ...
at the
38th Berlin International Film Festival The 38th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 12 to 23 February 1988. The festival opened with musical film ''Linie 1'' by Reinhard Hauff. The Golden Bear was awarded to the Chinese film '' Red Sorghum'' directed by Zhang Yimo ...
.


Plot

Mary-Jane (
Jane Birkin Jane Mallory Birkin, Order of British Empire, OBE (born 14 December 1946) is an English-French singer and actress. She attained international fame and notability for her decade-long musical and romantic partnership with Serge Gainsbourg. She als ...
) comes across Julien (Mathieu Demy) during a party her teenage daughter Lucy throws at their home. Julien has drunk too much and Mary-Jane induces vomiting to help him feel better. Intrigued by him she goes to visit Lucy at school to see if she can see him again and almost hits him with her car. On the pretext of seeing if he's alright Mary-Jane takes Julien to a café where he plays his favourite
arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily games of skill and include arcade v ...
, ''
Kung Fu Master Kung Fu Master. or derivatives thereof, may refer to: * ''Kung Fu Master'' (film), a 1988 French drama film directed by Agnès Varda * ''The Kung Fu Master'' (TV series), a 1994 Hong Kong martial arts television series * '' The Kung Fu Master'', ...
''. Intrigued by Julien and knowing she wants to see him again Mary-Jane goes looking for other places with the game. Before she can think of another reason to see Julien however he comes to her home and they spend the day together shopping. At the end of the day Julien kisses Mary-Jane's hand. At school Julien and Lucy must work together on a project and because he is so eager to work on the project she thinks that he has a crush on her. Mary-Jane and Julien continue to think of ways to be near one another. When Mary-Jane overhears Lucy talking about Julien missing school she visits his home to give him his homework and allows him to fondle her breast. Later he invites her out to celebrate with him and takes her to a hotel where he kisses her. Mary-Jane tepidly resists but later slaps him after he begins smoking in the elevator and runs away from him. While working on a project with Lucy, Julien learns that Lucy is going to England with her family over the upcoming holidays. Julien manages to get Lucy to invite him along. On Easter, while she is hiding eggs, Mary-Jane is surprised by Julien. The two end up kissing and are discovered by Lucy who is horrified by the fact that her mother is kissing a 14 year old boy. After telling her mother what has happened, Mary-Jane is encouraged by her to take Julien and her youngest daughter Lou to a remote island where the family owns a home to try and play out their flirtation. On the island the two of them declare their love for one another and enjoy a close relationship. At the end of their time on the island Mary-Jane worries that she'll lose Julien and he'll forget about her but he promises to love her forever. After their return from the island Julien's mother threatens to press charges while Mary-Jane loses custody of Lucy. Mary Jane never hears from him again. Meanwhile at an arcade Julien finally wins the ''Kung Fu Master'' game. He asks an arcade employee to call Mary-Jane and tell him that he has won but the employee gives up after he calls and Lou answers the phone. Later at his new school when other boys ask if he's ever had a girlfriend he speaks disparagingly of Mary-Jane saying she was just a bored housewife he once slept with.


Cast

*
Jane Birkin Jane Mallory Birkin, Order of British Empire, OBE (born 14 December 1946) is an English-French singer and actress. She attained international fame and notability for her decade-long musical and romantic partnership with Serge Gainsbourg. She als ...
as Mary-Jane *
Mathieu Demy Mathieu Demy (born 15 October 1972) is a French actor, film director and producer. He is the son of French film directors Agnès Varda and Jacques Demy. Career Demy started as a young actor in Agnès Varda's films ''L'une chante, l'autre pas ...
as Julien *
Charlotte Gainsbourg Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (; born 21 July 1971) is a British-French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song "Lemon I ...
as Lucy *
Lou Doillon Lou Doillon (born 4 September 1982) is a French-English singer, actress and model. Personal life Doillon is the daughter of French writer/director Jacques Doillon and English actress/singer Jane Birkin. She has six brothers and sisters: Ka ...
as Lou * Gary Chekchak as a young man * Cyril Houplain as a young man *
Frank Laurent Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...
as a young man *
Aurélien Hermant :''see also Aurélien (given name), for individuals with the masculine given name. ''Aurélien'' is a novel by Louis Aragon, the fourth of the ''Le Monde réel'' cycle. It was ranked 51st in ''Le Mondes 100 Books of the Century. Plot '' ...
as Un jeune * Jérémie Luntz as a young man * Thomas Bensaïd as a young man *
Pénélope Pourriat ''Pénélope'' is an opera in three acts by the French composer Gabriel Fauré. The libretto, by René Fauchois is based on Homer's ''Odyssey''. It was first performed at the Salle Garnier, Monte Carlo on 4 March 1913. The piece is dedicated to ...
a young woman * Ninon Vinsonneau a young woman * Bégonia Leis as a young woman * Eva Simonet as the friend *
Judy Campbell Judy Campbell (born Judith Mary Gamble; 31 May 1916 – 6 June 2004) was an English film, television and stage actress, widely known to be Noël Coward's muse. Her daughter is the actress and singer Jane Birkin, her son the screenwriter and dir ...
as the mother * David Birkin as the father


Production

Birkin Birkin is a village and civil parish in the south-west of the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is north of the River Aire, near Beal, North Yorkshire. The closest town is Knottingley, in West Yorkshire, to the south-west. The ...
conceived of the film while
Agnès Varda Agnès Varda (; born Arlette Varda; 30 May 1928 – 29 March 2019) was a Belgian-born French film director, screenwriter, photographer, and artist. Her pioneering work was central to the development of the widely influential French New Wave film ...
was filming her for the documentary ''Jane B. par Agnès V.'' Most of the cast were taken from
Birkin Birkin is a village and civil parish in the south-west of the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is north of the River Aire, near Beal, North Yorkshire. The closest town is Knottingley, in West Yorkshire, to the south-west. The ...
and
Varda Varda may refer to: People * Agnès Varda (1928–2019), French film director and professor *Jean Varda (1893–1971), Greek artist * Ratko Varda (born 1979), Bosnian basketball player *Rosalie Varda (born 1958), French costume designer, produce ...
's family, with
Birkin Birkin is a village and civil parish in the south-west of the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is north of the River Aire, near Beal, North Yorkshire. The closest town is Knottingley, in West Yorkshire, to the south-west. The ...
's real life daughters and parents playing her daughters and parents in the film.
Charlotte Gainsbourg Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (; born 21 July 1971) is a British-French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song "Lemon I ...
later admitted to disliking both the filming of '' Jane B. par Agnès V.'' and ''Kung Fu Master'' as
Varda Varda may refer to: People * Agnès Varda (1928–2019), French film director and professor *Jean Varda (1893–1971), Greek artist * Ratko Varda (born 1979), Bosnian basketball player *Rosalie Varda (born 1958), French costume designer, produce ...
and her film crew remained camped in her home for a year in order to complete the projects.


Reception and release

In 2015, both ''Kung Fu Master'' and ''Jane B. par Agnès V.'' were acquired for U.S. distribution by
Cinelicious Pics Cinelicious Pics is a distribution wing of the post-production company Cinelicious, launched by Paul Korver and Dennis Bartok, former American Cinematheque head programmer. The company was designed to distribute new U.S. and foreign independent ...
. The films enjoyed a brief theatrical re-release before being streamed on the movie streaming service
Fandor Fandor is a film streaming service, dedicated to independent films, documentaries, international titles, and classics, and is a division of the American entertainment company, Cinedigm. Relaunched in 2021, Fandor offers thousands of films, rang ...
.
Varda Varda may refer to: People * Agnès Varda (1928–2019), French film director and professor *Jean Varda (1893–1971), Greek artist * Ratko Varda (born 1979), Bosnian basketball player *Rosalie Varda (born 1958), French costume designer, produce ...
expressed frustration at the film's limited release saying "I can get the
Palme d’Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...
, but I can’t get exhibition, so it’s a contradiction."


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kung Fu Master 1988 films 1988 drama films 1980s French-language films French romance films Films directed by Agnès Varda Films about video games 1980s French films