Mondays With Jane Birkin

Talent is apparently at least partially genetic as Jane Birkin's three daughters have an abundance of it. She had her first daughter Kate during her time in the sixties with famed composer John Barry. Kate Barry has gone on to be a successful photographer and an assistant film director. Kate has also inherited Jane's humanitarian streak and has worked as a drug counselor for recovering addicts. Kate also shot the fantastic cover shot for Jane's great album RENDEZ-VOUS and the promotional materials that went along with it.

Charlotte Gainsbourg was born in July of 1971 and she has gone on to become one of the coolest and most talented people on the planet. An award winning actress, activist and an acclaimed singer. The daughter of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg is why the term 'cool' was invented. I'll be posting much more on her incredible, now almost 25 year old career of Charlottes at a later date. She's a real favorite.

Jane became involved with filmmaker Jacques Doillon in the late seventies after her relationship with Serge fell apart. Daughter Lou was born in September of 82. A talented actress as well as a model, Lou is currently appearing in Abel Ferrara's newest film GO GO TALES opposite Asia Argento. A couple of years ago she did a fantastic photo spread re-creating her mother's iconic role as Melody Nelson that garnered lots of attention.

Jane has the reputation of being a wonderful and supportive mother and remains extremely close to all three of her daughters. All three remain talented and positive role models in a world currently running on short supply.

Where's The DVD? (Abel Ferrara's Mary)

Even though it is one of the most acclaimed films Abel Ferrara has ever released, the Venice Film Festival Prize winning MARY remains missing in action in America.
With an amazing cast including Juliette Binoche, Stefania Rocco and Forest Whitaker, the film has been called probably Abel's best work since NEW ROSE HOTEL or possibly even THE ADDICTION.
Ferrara is one of my favorite filmmakers and I have been really glad to see his latest films getting so much attention, which makes the absence of MARY on dvd all the more frustrating.

I heard a rumor that IFC films picked this up late last year for limited distribution but I haven't heard anything else about it since. MARY supposedly marked a real return to form for the great Ferrara, after the flawed 'R XMAS, and his career resurgence appears to be going strong with his new GO GO TALES drawing a lot of attention. Ferrara's films always seem to divide people but there are very few American filmmakers who affect me more than Abel and the clips I have seen of MARY make me think it is one of his major works.
I am close to breaking down and ordering an import of the film although I have read that it has some annoying forced English subtitles. If anyone reading might have any further information on an American release I would appreciate it.