My thanks to NetGalley and Aurora Metro Books for an advance copy of this book on the works of one of France's best film directors, a woman whose work covers many different styles, many different themes, an artist comfortable in long, short and documentary forms, and one with a distinct vision, and skill that we as viewers are still catching up with.

I have loved movies for almost all of my life, with some breaks in our relationship, mostly due to me. My first movie was Walt Disney's Robin Hood, a moment I can still remember seeing as we arrived early and were allowed to come in at the end. The sound, the characters, the idea of being alone in a theater with others and sharing in a moment, each moment singular to the person, and yet shared among the crowd. Moving to the country, my father found a friends cable repairman who gave us free cable, a gift to a young cinephile, one I tried my best to fill up on. I saw movies both good, really bad, and many that were probably above my age of understanding. I came to French movies late, and being a male who didn't know better, skipped through the Gallic oeuvre ignoring many good movies, and well most movies directed by woman. I have amended this much as finding and watching movies has become easier in some ways, hard in others. One I keep finding more and more enjoyable are the works of Agnès Varda. I believe my first was a documentary on her husband's movies, and one I enjoyed. As I caught up, I was always amazed at how ahead Varda seemed, in the way people reacted, conversed, and went about their lives. All of this captured in this wonderful book. In the Scene: Agnes Varda by writer of both fiction and criticism Paul Sutton is a look at the life and work of the artist, showing the work, the effort the thoughts and the ideas behind many of Varda's movies, as well as explaining what makes them so enjoyable.

The book looks at the films, feature length, short, documentaries, even works done for commercials and for news segments. In addition Sutton explores Varda' photography and the art installations that became so important to Varda late in life. The book starts with an overview of Varda's life, birth opportunities, and the eye for photography that helped Varda so much in directing movies. Sutton looks at the work of Varda's husband Jacques Demy, and how their marriage, both ups and downs affected Varda's works, and how championing of Demy's films filled her later life. The book covers everything Varda has done all examined in chronological order. Sutton breaks the movies down looking at where the ideas for works came from, difficulties in financing, projects lost, or later adapted into something else. Sutton goes into the filming of the movies, looking at reviews both good and bad, awards one, and even breaks the themes of the movies down.

The book is both fascinating and educational to people working in the creative field. Sutton does a very good job of breaking down the movies, be it fiction or nonfiction, describing what works, what occasionally doesn't, and why film watchers even after all these years should care. Sutton has a good eye, and a very nice writing style, able to talk technical about film, shots and equipment, and also looking at the emotional aspect that makes many of these films stay with watchers. One not only appreciates that art, but the artists, and the work, and sometimes sacrifices Varda had to make.

A really wonderful film book, of interest to fans of Varda, and those who love to read about film history and creation. And for those who would like to life an artistic life. A book I learned quite a bit from, and one that will cost me quite a bit in tracking down those films I have missed.