September 8: Alphaville – A Strange Adventure of Lemmy Caution (1965) by Jean-Luc Godard

5.00pm | Sunday, September 8, 2024. | Alliance Française Lagos, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi | Free Entry

This month, we present ALPHAVILLE, the futuristic feature film by iconic French New Wave filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard. How does the past imagine and predict the present and the future? In ALPHAVILLE, residents of the eponymous commune are ruled by a machine, led by logic, and devoid of feeling. Lemmy Caution’s task is to eliminate Professor von Braun, creator of the machine Alpha 60, and founder of the new town. How far he will succeed depends on how smartly he can evade the brainwashed residents and security agents – including Natascha von Braun, the professor’s daughter.
Released almost 60 years ago, some elements of the film can be considered outdated, however, certain realities in the film are true today: surveillance states, the rise of artificial intelligence and the decline of emotional intelligence, fake news are just some of the topical themes amongst others.
Screening starts at 5pm prompt (doors open at 4.30pm) on Sunday, September 8 at Alliance Française Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre. Entry is free.

ABOUT THE FILM
In an era after the 1960s, the authorities of the “outer planets” sent the famous secret agent Lemmy Caution on a mission to Alphaville, a dehumanized city a few light years away from Earth. Caution is in charge of neutralizing Professor von Braun, the almighty master of Alphaville, who has abolished human feelings there. A computer, Alpha 60, governs the entire city. A message from Dickson, an ex-secret agent, orders Lemmy to “destroy Alpha 60 and save those who are crying”. But he is kidnapped, interrogated by Alpha 60 and sentenced to death…