French writer Annie Ernaux’s literary work traverses intersections of fiction, autobiography and memory. In her film debut (co-directed with her son David), she continues to explore this space. In an evocative and warm documentary put together from Super 8 home movies, narrated by Ernaux herself, the film goes beyond the personal and invites us to reflect on time, family, and our memories of ourselves. Ernaux looks at her past self and tells us who this person was beyond what we’re seeing.

Organised by Professor Ève Morisi (St Hugh’s College, Oxford), in collaboration with Professors Élise Hugueny-Léger (U of St Andrews), Ann Jefferson (New College, Oxford) and Lyn Thomas (U of Sussex).

With the support of St Hugh’s College, the Institut Français de Londres and the MFO.

This screening is part of a series of events organised by Professor Ève Morisi (St Hugh’s College, Oxford), following the award of the Nobel Prize in Literature to Annie Ernaux in December 2022. The series also includes an exhibition entitled ‘Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux: Class, Gender, and Life-Writing’ (St Hugh’s College, 8 June-8 November 2023), an international colloquium on ‘Annie Ernaux: Writing, Politics’ (9 June, St Hugh’s College, Oxford), and the screening of the film adaptation of L’Événement (Happening, by Audrey Diwan, 9 June, MFO).