“The greatest documentary about Paris.” That’s a bold claim—but Le Joli Mai has the history, ambition, and sheer cinematic curiosity to back it up.
Directed by Chris Marker and Pierre Lhomme, this landmark 1963 documentary spends May 1962 wandering the streets of Paris, just after the ceasefire that ended France’s war in Algeria. The result is a remarkable snapshot of a city—and a country—trying to figure out what peace might mean.
Part street portrait, part political inquiry, Le Joli Mai finds its subjects everywhere: a mother of eight, a salesman, young lovers, engineers, investors, an African student, an Algerian worker, a worker-priest—and, naturally, several cats. Marker and Lhomme move effortlessly between intimate conversations and major historical events, turning ordinary Parisians into the cast of an extraordinary moment.
Often cited as an early example of cinéma vérité, the film premiered in the U.S. at the very first New York Film Festival in 1963. It also features a score by Oscar-winning composer Michel Legrand and English commentary by Oscar-winning actress Simone Signoret.
Now, Icarus Films brings this essential work to Region A Blu-ray, complete with bonus features including Playtime in Paris (1962), a 2015 interview with Pierre Lhomme, English subtitles, and a 16-page booklet.
And there’s a collector’s extra: a Michael DeForge-designed limited-edition slipcover, restricted to just 500 copies. It’s available exclusively through the Icarus Films website and select independent retailers—major retailers won’t be stocking it.
Nearly six decades on, Le Joli Mai still does what great documentaries do best: it looks closely, listens carefully, and lets a city reveal itself.
Official Store Page: https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collections/icarus-films/products/le-joli-mai-the-lovely-month-of-may
