Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
The epic life story of Alice Guy-Blaché (1873–1968), a French screenwriter, director and producer, true pioneer of cinema, the first person who made a narrative fiction film; author of hundreds of movies, but banished from history books. Ignored and forgotten. At last remembered.
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary uncovers the remarkable life and career of Alice Guy-Blaché, a pioneering filmmaker who was the first to make narrative films. Despite her prolific output and innovative techniques, her contributions were largely erased from film history for decades. The film uses archival footage and interviews to reconstruct her story and reclaim her rightful place as a foundational figure in cinema.
Critical Reception
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché was met with widespread critical acclaim, lauded for its meticulous research, compelling storytelling, and its crucial role in correcting the historical record of cinema. Critics celebrated the film for bringing to light the achievements of a forgotten visionary.
What Reviewers Say
- An essential documentary for any film enthusiast, finally giving credit where it is long overdue.
- Masterfully researched and passionately presented, it sheds light on a groundbreaking talent.
- A triumphant reclamation of a lost chapter in cinematic history.
Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praise the film for its fascinating subject matter and its success in educating viewers about Alice Guy-Blaché's significant but overlooked contributions to filmmaking. Many found the story inspiring and the documentary thoroughly engaging.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2019 Independent Spirit Awards. Won the Audience Award at the 2018 DOC NYC festival.
Fun Fact
Alice Guy-Blaché was the first woman to direct a narrative film, with her 1896 short 'La Fée aux Choux' (The Cabbage Fairy).
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