The Gleaners and I
dir. Agnès Varda · 2000
Feature
Environmental Crisis
Mood
Contemplative / Melancholic
Look
intimate, handheld cinematography with a focus on natural light and textures
Structure
episodic exploration through personal vignettes
Plot
Varda focuses her eye on gleaners: those who scour already-reaped fields for the odd potato or turnip. Her investigation leads from forgotten corners of the French countryside to off-hours at the green markets of Paris, following those who insist on finding a use for that which society has cast off, whether out of necessity or activism.
Why watch
"The Gleaners and I" invites viewers into a world where the overlooked and discarded are celebrated, revealing the beauty in the mundane and the resilience of those who reclaim what society has cast aside. Agnès Varda's poetic lens transforms gleaning into a profound meditation on value, labor, and the human spirit.
Cultural context
post-industrial Francethe rise of environmental activismthe legacy of rural traditionsurban poverty and inequality