Areas (2013): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2013, Areas is a notable film directed by François Daireaux, running about 54 minutes.

What it’s about. Matter and movement – these fragments are fascinating not only because of the web they weave but also for their intrinsic purity carved into a study of detail. We half recognise India here and there, but the unusual never becomes a symbol of the exotic. Be it the sandy trench being stamped down by a man’s expert sidestep or the leafage reflected in the tiny mirror decorating a woman’s costume, a chicken’s foot protruding from a steamer or the rhythmic thud of laundry beaten on stone, each element is captured in all its strangeness and, at the same time, in a familiar perfection that bears the mark of hand or tool. Like a Francis Ponge, François Daireaux uses the precision of his sharp cuts and fades-to-black to sculpt from reality, polish objects, movements, forms, elements, and finally rejuvenate our way of seeing.

How it landed. With an audience score of 3.0/10, Areas has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Areas page.