The expression “IN MEMORIAM” is particularly apt in looking at the work of French auteur Alain Resnais, who passed away March 1 at the age of 91. Meaning “INTO MEMORY,” IN MEMORIAM seems to beautifully describe many of Resnais’ greatest works, including NIGHT AND FOG, HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR, LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD, MURIEL, and PROVIDENCE. The Bill Cosford Cinema is honored to bring a special presentation of its Cosford Classics series to celebrated Resnais’ work with an exclusive 35mm presentation of his science-fiction film JE T’AIME, JE T’AIME (1968).

Recovering after a suicide attempt, Claude Rich (Best Actor, San Sebastian Film Festival) is obviously the perfect guinea pig for a sedulously anonymous corporation’s tentative attempts at time travel — what could go wrong? After all, the mouse came out okay. And maybe, when he goes back a year, he can re-live one particular minute. Resnais’ switch into science fiction continues his theme of time as Rich’s memories — thanks to the obligatory unaccounted-for glitch — flips back and forth in time in tiny bits and pieces, although returning again and again to a Riviera Beach and to a bed-sitter in Glasgow, sometimes in alternate, and even surreal, versions. A major influence on Michel Gondry’s ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, Resnais’ highly experimental attempt to encompass a life totally via non-linear impressionism has never been on DVD in this country.

Cosford Classics presented a retrospective on Resnais work last August called Deja Vu: Return to Resnais, including his penultimate film YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET, a special collection of shorts RESNAIS, BRIEFLY, and 35mm presentations of LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD, STAVISKY…, and PROVIDENCE.