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Blue Valentine tells the story of a young couple as they’re approaching the end of their relationship whilst cutting seamlessly from past to present. The past, shot hand held on Super 16mm shows us the beginning of Dean and Cindy’s relationship, full of romance and hope, we see clips set over several weeks as they fall in love. We catch up with them in the present, set in 24 hours and effectively the day that leads to the failure of their marriage. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling put in magnificent performances as the story’s protagonists. Beautifully captured by cinematographer Andrij Parekh and sound tracked by Grizzly Bear, Blue Valentine is currently standing as one of my favourite films of the year.

I managed to grab a quick interview with director Derek Cianfrance to discuss the film and some of the methods and techniques he used throughout shooting.

Blue Valentine (2010)

Dean and Cindy live a quiet life in a modest neighborhood. To the casual observer, everything appears normal, if a bit subdued. But a closer examination reveals a couple caught in a downward spiral. They appear to have the world at their feet at the outset of the relationship. However, his lack of ambition and her retreat into self-absorption cause potentially irreversible cracks in their marriage.

I wanted the film to feel visceral so that when the characters were moving the cameras were moving; you’re actually in the flesh and blood of these characters.

9 Responses to DN LFF2010: Blue Valentine – Derek Cianfrance

  1. Like all other games, this one is fun too. Fill a glass jar with candies and ask the guests to guess the number of candies in it. But just before you begin the game, be sure you yourself have counted the number of candies in it. This game can also be played with a cake, in which case, the weight of the cake needs to be guessed. The one who guesses proper or comes closest to the answer wins the game. Make this Valentine’s Day game more interesting by making the total candy jar or the complete cake the prize for the winner.

  2. Over the centuries Valentines Day has evolved. By the 14th century lovers were exchanging handmade cards in England and France. These cards had been made of lace, ribbon and colorful papers. The switch from handmade to manufactured cards came in the mid-1800s, which was the same time that Valentine’s Day greeting cards became well-liked within the U.S. American Esther A. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap”. She sold these cards and eventually they became so well-known that they had been printed for mass distribution.

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