Ménilmontant (pronounced [menilmɔ̃tɑ̃]) is a 1926 film written and directed by Dimitri Kirsanoff that takes its name from the Paris neighborhood of the same name.
Ménilmontant | |
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![]() Nadia Sibirskaïa in Kisanoff's 1926 film, Ménilmontant | |
Directed by | Dimitri Kirsanoff |
Written by | Dimitri Kirsanoff |
Produced by | Dimitri Kirsanoff |
Starring | Nadia Sibirskaïa Yolande Beaulieu Guy Belmont Jean Pasquier |
Cinematography | Léonce Crouan Dimitri Kirsanoff |
Music by | Lev Shvarts |
Release date |
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Running time | 38 minutes [1] |
Country | France |
Languages | Silent film no intertitles |
The film is silent and contains no intertitles. It begins with a flurry of quick shots depicting the axe murder of the parents of the protagonists, two sisters.[2] As young women, they are portrayed by Nadia Sibirskaïa, Kirsanoff's first wife, and Yolande Beaulieu; their mutual love interest is played by Guy Belmont.[3]
Like many of the early French avant-garde films, Menilmontant uses a mixture of styles and techniques.[4] The film also uses many techniques that were relatively new at the time, including double exposure.[5]
Film critic Pauline Kael wrote that Menilmontant was her favorite film of all time.[6]