Every frame a fucking painting.

As a consequence of a recent deep dive into Reichardt's work, she's the filmmaker I've maybe spent the most time pondering about this year and I struggle to think of another American filmmaker that is operating on the same wavelength as her. Her preference for a slower pace of storytelling is completely singular in the American film landscape. Most Hollywood films, mainstream and indie, either have a lot of talk, a lot of action, a…

Will there be another filmmaker like Agnes Varda? Who else could carry a documentary in such a style with such singular personality and vision?

In 80 minutes Varda touches on themes of class, consumerism, waste, environmentalism, art-making, aging, film-making, food, charity, community, the law, and still finds time to show us accidental footage of her lens-cap dancing when she left her camera on. And who else could pull that last-thing off with such earnestness?

I can't imagine anyone else coming…

If there is any filmmaker I want to be, it is Agnes Varda. Not for her filmmaking ability or creativity (which she has plenty), but for her wonderful openness to life and to the lives of others. Varda sees you, she sees you wholly as you are, despite her failing vision. Her gentle curiosity and warmth will melt your heart and so will her immeasurable capacity for understanding and feeling.

In a film both smartly structured and yet sweetly wandering,…