Vagabond is one of her more highly regarded films, having garnered awards internationally for direction, and for the performance of the lead actress, Sandrine Bonnaire. It is the story of the last days of Mona Bergeron (Bonnaire), a wanderer making up new rules for life at the spur of the moment. After being a working class stiff, Mona tramps from one place to the next, relying on or forcing kindness from strangers, though not with the best social skills.
Varda takes us on a journey of the French countryside, through dilapidated villages and middle class suburbia. Mona doesn’t appear to have a direction or goal in mind, she just wants life on her terms. Sometimes she makes up stories to those she comes across, but she is so convincing that you don’t know what the truth is, and don’t suspect falsehood until she tells a new tale.
The mix of people, atmosphere, and unpredictability keep the film at an easily watchable pace. Sparse in dialogue, a good interaction is inferred in simple stares and silences. What does get tedious is that we never quite get any real insight into Mona, she doesn’t change in the course of her journey no matter what she encounters, and this can leave a stale feeling from one scene to the next. On the other hand, this drawback also adds to the general feeling of what it is like to be the outsider that Mona has made herself.
The more challenging aspect of Vagabond is that it is a portrayal of a rebel against society without any moral issues hitting you over the head. Mona is not sweet and polite to those that assist her, as you would normally expect. When given a home and land of her own by one particular bystander, she proceeds to be lazy and steal their food. Though she has a tomboyish quality, she takes turns in being erotic as well.
It’s because of the character complexities and imperfections that my mind keeps bending over whether or not I like it. I certainly respect the lack of redundant characters or expectant plot devices. I even appreciate that these stories aren’t told often, and with a seemingly objective camera. Do you feel for those that Mona takes advantage of? Sure, but they also have their frailties, and even hubris, so that no matter how much kindness they show this stranger, they aren’t necessarily better on a humanity food chain.
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