Two Bicycles

"Most significantly, one can finally see Mieville outside of a clause with Godard, even as his partner an individual with her own artistic indentity, and an important filmmaker in her own right. Of course, much of this is accomplished implicitly, as White's book is primarily focused on breaking down the films analytically. Indeed, Two Bicycles ' first and foremost act of demystification is firmly directed at clarifying the ideas in the work rather than emphasizing the people behind that work. White's readings of the films are refreshingly succinct. With impressive lucidity, he is able to define the parameters of their undertakings: the context of production; Godard and Mieville's living situation (they mostly spent time in both France and their native Switzerland, but also visited Quebec and Mozambique); and their specific interests at the time. Combining this with close inspection of the duo's running obsessions, influences, and political engagement, White comes up with well-informed but distinctly subjective interpretations of their films.... The most considered value of Two Bicycles comes from its imposition of a segmented arc that defines the ever-changing methods and projects throughout the duo's working history.... White articulates it with a sensitive eye and keen, clear prose, making Two Bicycles an important tool for navigating and understanding such a challenging and rewarding body of work." -- Adam Cook -- Cineaste, Winter 2013
"This is a thoughtful, insightful, and revelatory study on a neglected subject that had new things to teach me on almost every page." -- Jonathan Rosenbaum, author, Goodbye Cinema, Hello Cinephilia (2010), former film critic, Chicago Reader