In the eyes of industry renowned French cinephile Pierre Rissient, liking a movie is not enough if you don’t like it for the right reasons. If you so happen to disagree with Rissient’s opinions on a film he has championed, then he will be the first to tell you that your opinion is wrong.  Simple as that.

But Pierre can get away with such a stern attitude; as Todd McCarthy’s (chief critic of Variety magazine) reveals, Rissient is ‘the’ man of cinema. Whilst few outside of the film industry know of his name, McCarthy’s documentary honours the profound influence Rissient has had on those within the industry. From classic directors such as Joseph Losey (The Go-Between) and Jules Dassin (Rififi) to modern greats such as Clint Eastwood and Quentin Tarantino; many filmmakers, producers, critics and festival coordinators from all corners of the globe owe much of their success to Pierre Rissient.

But what has Pierre actually done to gain such notoriety and respect? As McCarthy’s extensive set of interviews reveal in the opening minutes, even those closest to the enigmatic man struggle to answer such a question. McCarthy’s sets out to find the answer, interviewing Rissient about the origin of his cinematic love affair and how it has since eventuated into his uncredited career as a talent scout and publicist for films and filmmakers. His industry sway is undeniable; Tarantino goes as far as labelling Rissient as the “King of Cannes” due to his ability to use his influence to get mostly unknown films into the highly prestigious film festival.

Yet Man of Cinema can be a one sided discussion; even though each interviewee details their relationship with Pierre, he seldom returns the favour, instead choosing to discuss his dealings with personalities of the past. Whilst this does make for a greater range of celebrity mentions, it can start to feel more like a mere listing of acquaintances rather than an insightful look into their relationship, leaving the story half told. Still, the diversity of the interviewees is impressive and it’s nice to see amoung the many famous faces Australian directors Rolf De Heer (Ten Canoes) and Jane Campion (The Piano) as well as renowned film critic David Stratton.

James Taylor’s editing does well to keep the many talking heads used to retell Rissient’s story coherent,  yet McCarthy takes a little too much liberty from Rissient’s seemingly endless number of famous contacts and relating anecdotes, causing the documentary to stagnate in parts. That being said, such anecdotes can also provide the film’s most enjoyable moments; such as Pierre’s humorous retelling of his cinematic visit to see Deep Throat.

Verdict:

Despite its flaws, Man of Cinema pays a solid homage to one of the film industries unsung heroes, making this a must see for cinephiles. Todd McCarthy’s documentary captures the great passion, blatant honesty and limitless influence of Pierre Rissient, a true man of cinema.

---

Man of Cinema: Pierre Rissient screens apart of the 2009 Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival.

Tickets are still available for a second screening on the 27th Feb at 6:00 PM. For more information, visit the BAFF website here.

For more reviews and features from the Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival, visit the page devoted to our coverage  here.

Follow the author Anders Wotzke on Twitter.