Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin looks at the career of one of the most influential and simultaneously overlooked directors in cinema. Making its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival, the documentary looks back on the career of the French director. Using interviews and footage from his many movies, the film tells the story of Rollin’s career.
The documentary is the exact opposite of any of Rollin’s works. From the lackluster narration to the numerous talking heads, it is very unoriginal. In what can only be called supreme irony, Orchestrator of Storms is unimaginative. After a hot opening montage, things slow down to a crawl. This opening moments set the pace for what is to follow. The pace constantly oscillates between simply talking about its subject and showing off his impressive work.
There is a stark contrast between the two. When Orchestrator of Storms discusses the life of Rollin, it is interesting to listen to but the presentation is static. The use of photographs is initially inspired, but soon loses its charm. Some of the interviews also run a too long. This is most obvious towards the end as someone discusses Rollin’s final days. That being said, the running theme of the filmmaker never having enough money is interesting.
As audiences, it is easy to take for granted the difficulties in securing funding. It is simpler to marvel at how much was done with a little money or better, not to think about it at all. Orchestrator of Storms goes into the sacrifices Rollin had to make in order to pursue his craft. This included forays into pornography and working on projects he would have preferred not to.
The highlight of Orchestrator of Storms will be the footage of Rollin’s many works. Even as cult directors go, he is underground. The documentary is a showcase of why it was decades before his movies were given their due. As someone states, he was too horror for the art crowd, but too artsy for the horror crowd. Scenes from even his lesser regarded work shows how different Rollin was from his contemporaries – and why he left such a mark.
Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin is screening at Fantasia Festival
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