𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕

One Sings, the Other Doesn’t: Reprise

Agnès Varda’s 1977 feminist classic One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (L'Une chante, l'autre pas) captured the spirit of the women’s liberation movement through the enduring friendship of Pauline and Suzanne. More than four decades later, a fictional sequel titled One Sings, the Other Doesn’t: Reprise imagines their legacy continued through a new generation—an emotionally rich and politically charged journey that bridges past and present.

Set in the early 2020s, Reprise follows the daughters of Pauline and Suzanne—Clara and Lila—now women in their thirties, navigating a complex landscape of modern feminism, climate anxiety, and identity politics. The film opens with the death of Suzanne, prompting a reunion between Clara, an eco-activist filmmaker, and Lila, a corporate lawyer disillusioned by the system. As they revisit their mothers’ letters and recordings, the film becomes a meditation on memory, generational trauma, and the evolution of feminist thought.

What stands out most in this imagined continuation is the way it mirrors Varda’s original tone: intimate, poetic, yet boldly political. The sequel does not try to replicate the 1970s but instead honors its emotional truth by showing how the personal remains deeply political. The women's experiences—balancing motherhood, career, and activism—echo Pauline and Suzanne’s paths, but in a world now shaped by digital surveillance, social media activism, and renewed threats to bodily autonomy.

Visually, Reprise leans into a hybrid of documentary and fiction, much like Varda’s style, weaving archival footage of women’s marches from the '70s into present-day protests. Music once again plays a central role, this time through Clara’s protest songs, a subtle homage to Pauline’s earlier performances.

While the film occasionally veers into idealism, it is grounded by moments of tension—between the protagonists, within the feminist movement, and in their personal choices. It asks hard questions: What does solidarity mean across generations? Is the movement progressing, or repeating itself?

Ultimately, One Sings, the Other Doesn’t: Reprise is a heartfelt tribute to female resilience and intergenerational bonds. It’s a fictional sequel we wish were real—offering a tender, honest look at how two women's voices can echo far beyond their time.