Anna Karina

Interview by Rada Djurica

This interview took place during the press conference at the 2006 International Film Festival in Belgrade (FEST), in which Rada participated. For more on FEST, see her essay.

How did you start your career?

I left home at 17, because I couldn’t get along with my second stepfather, from Denmark. I had already visited Paris with my first stepfather, so I went straight to Paris. At that age, young people can be very brave. I was working as a photo model, and I imagined everything would be all right if I save 50,000 francs, but I made much more, enough to live for three years there. I saved money for acting school. Very soon, I started to act in films and even in the theatre.

Tell us something about your relationship with Jean-Luc Goddard:

In 1961, went on screen the first time with Goddard, and before that I’d made a couple of films. At that time I’d done a short film, shown at Cannes 1959, that was very successful. I also played some parts in a few Danish films before that.

You directed films, too?

There was one film I directed. It’s a film from 1972 (Vivre Ensemble) about a woman who’s seriously taking over the part of the man, her husband. I did that in '72. Maybe it would be nice for this film to be shown now. I produced this film, and it didn’t go so well, financially.

What do you think abut Emir Kusturica?

I must mention Dom za vesanje. That’s one of the best films in the world. I must say that Kusta is a very good musician. I’ve heard him in concert, and I’ve seen him in France, and I can say he is brilliant.