HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT (2015) ***
In the ‘60s, French New Wave filmmaker Francois Truffaut extensively interviewed Alfred Hitchcock and wrote the definitive book on The Master. The book went on to become a valuable text for up-and-coming filmmakers, many of which are interviewed (among them, Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, and David Fincher). This documentary focuses on the lasting effect that the book had on its readers and chronicles (using archive photos and audio tape) the actual interview.
Scorsese pretty much dominates the second half of the movie when he’s discussing Vertigo and Psycho. This is actually the most entertaining stretch of the picture. I think we would’ve been better off with a feature length Scorsese interview on Hitchcock. Regardless, it’s still worth a look for fans of Hitchcock and (to a slightly lesser extent) Truffaut.
At a mere eighty minutes, the film seems a bit rushed and its focus gets sidetracked at times. The filmmakers spend a lot of time discussing Hitchcock’s movies, but offers few insights about what went on in that small office between Hitchcock and Truffaut. Sure, we get to hear the audio excerpts from the original interview, but these glimpses are more tantalizing than satisfying, and you walk away wanting more.
The big takeaway from the film is that even though both Hitchcock and Truffaut were as different as night and day, they still had a common ground: Their love of movies. Even though they had to overcome a language barrier during their interview, they both spoke the language of cinema. That’s a message any movie lover can embrace.