A Life Well Spent: The Short Films of Les Blank

Dive into the magic of cinema with the Enzian Film Club! Join us for an enriching experience where film enthusiasts and novices alike can explore classic films in a new light. Each session features a short presentation by esteemed professors from local colleges, followed by collaborative discussions that bring fresh insights and foster a deeper appreciation for the art of filmmaking. Part of our Saturday Matinee Classics series, the Enzian Film Club is your gateway to understanding and enjoying timeless cinematic masterpieces in a vibrant, community-focused setting.

Featuring an Enzian Film Club discussion on with Enzian programmers Tim Anderson and Paige Babbage!

A Life Well Spent: The Short Films of Les Blank

Born in Tampa, Florida in 1935 Les Blank made uncompromisingly independent documentaries for nearly fifty years, elegantly disappearing with his camera into cultural spots rarely seen on-screen—mostly on the peripheries of the United States, but also occasionally abroad.

Like the Maysles brothers, D.A. Pennebaker, and Frederick Wiseman, Les Blank emerged from the American direct cinema movement, favoring observational techniques over narration and allowing character and environment to reveal themselves organically. But where the Maysles often gravitated toward the psychological intimacy of individuals, Pennebaker toward cultural flashpoints, and Wiseman toward institutional anatomy, Blank carved out a warmer, more sensual terrain. His films linger on food, music, regional rituals, and the rhythms of everyday life. If his peers documented America with a reporter’s eye, Blank did so with a folklorist’s heart.

The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins (1968)

Soon after founding his production company, Flower Films, Les Blank got up close to the legendary Texas blues musician Lightnin’ Hopkins for this rollicking film.

Gap-Toothed Women (1987)

Blank breezily questions our commonly accepted standards of beauty with this paean to women with extra-wide dental spaces.

Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of Cajun and Creole Cooking (1990)

Accordionist Marc Savoy and his family and friends show us how to make good court-bouillon, gumbo, étouffée, boudin, and other Cajun and Creole delights.

_{93 minutes, USA, In English and French with English Subtitles, Directed by Les Blank, Unrated}