Jean Rollin was a French film director who, over his five-decade career, directed over fifty films. Despite having such a hefty resume, his is a name that is relatively unknown. Only those with a keen interest in Eurocult cinema fully understand the impact that his work has had on film history. New documentary, Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin, highlights his career, with a detailed profile of the filmmaker.
Directed by the team of Dima Ballin and Kat Ellinger, Orchestrator of Storms is an in-depth and complex account that charts Rollin from childhood to death. The format follows the standard documentary formula as Ballin and Ellinger piece together a series of interviews conducted especially for the film. Many of those interviewed had a connection to Rollin, whether they were a frequent collaborator such as Brigitte Lahaie (who starred in several of his films), a close friend, Véronique D-Travers, or a journalist who crossed paths with Rollin. Each had their own story to tell, ranging from formal analysis, funny anecdotes or incredibly personal memories. Life-long friend Véronique D-Travers’ accounts are particularly emotional, her final words guaranteed to not leave a dry eye in the house.
Where Orchestrator of Storms struggles is that it isn’t as accessible as one would hope. There is plenty of history and information given to fill in those with little-to-no prior knowledge of Rollin, but it is very densely presented. There’s so much information to ingest that it almost becomes too much for those without a foundation of knowledge about the director. Those that are familiar with his work or elements of his life will have a more satisfying viewing experience and they are clearly the target audience. Orchestrator of Storms feels like exactly the kind of deep-dive documentary that Arrow lovingly creates for their products. Given that the Arrow logo pops up at the beginning, maybe this film is destined for inclusion on a future Rollin box-set, and if so, that would be ideal positioning.
Jumping straight in, Orchestrator of Storms is a profile documentary that requires at least a little prior knowledge of the subject. Those lacking awareness won’t be cut out completely, but may struggle to keep up with the abundance of incredibly well-researched information. Fans of Rollin and his work however, will be fascinated. Even the most die-hard of admirers are sure to find something new about their hero.
Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin
Summary
Perfectly curated for fans of Rollin, Orchestrator of Storms is a tougher prospect for those new to the director. Not because anything is glossed over, but rather there is so much information given it’s hard to keep up.
Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin was reviewed at Fantasia International Film Festival. Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin will screen next at Arrow Video FrightFest on Saturday 27th August 2022.
