Claire Denis, Jim Jarmusch Reflect on Careers and Friendship at New York Rendez-Vous With French Cinema

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAfter winning the Berlinale Silver Bear Award with “Both Sides of the Blade” (“Fire”), Claire Denis and her longtime pal Jim Jarmusch shared filmmaking tips and anecdotes from their decades-spanning careers on stage at the New York Rendez-Vous with French Cinema.Within minutes of watching Denis and Jarmusch laugh and gush over each other, it was clear that these two have been friends for a very long time and have admired each other’s work.

Denis, who has a soft yet determined voice, has known Jarmusch since working as an assistant director on his 1986 film “Down by Law.”“I was counting and we’ve known each other for 37 years or something like that, and what that means is we’re old, but it also means to you, young people, that shit goes by fast.

But the good thing about that is the many incredibly beautiful films Claire has done,” said Jarmusch, who admitted to being a “huge fan” of Binoche because she’s a “fearless actor.” He said he met her the night before at the opening night dinner of the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema at the posh Villa Albertine and “stole her place card.” Denis is presenting “Both Sides of the Blade” at the festival, which is curated by Film at Lincoln Center and co-organized by Unifrance, the French film and TV advocacy group.