"CQ" is the
first film written and directed by
Roman Coppola (son of
Francis Ford Coppola, brother of
Sophia Coppola) about Paul (Jeremy Davies), an aspiring
film director who, living with his girlfriend in
1969 Paris, is working on a personal
documentary about finding what is
real and
honest. His
day job is
editing a
science fiction film called "
Codename:
Dragonfly" that takes place in the distant year
2001. After a
screening of the
film for its
producer, the current
director is fired and Paul is given the task of completing the
sci-fi action adventure himself. As Paul tries to find an ending for both films simultaneously, the line between science fiction and reality starts to dissolve and he finds himself falling for Agent Dragonfly (or is it the
actress who plays her).
Though competent as a film on its own, "CQ" (used in the film as code for "SEEK YOU") is really a valentine to the films of the 1960's, mostly European like the works of Mario Bava (whose "Danger Diabolik" largely inspired this film), Fracois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. Coppola pays homage to many films of the new wave era, such as "David Holzman's Diary", "Girl on a Motorcycle" and "Dr. Strangelove", with visual appropriations and even references with dialogue. The result of these influences is a refreshingly stylized movie.
To achieve the look of the film, Coppola shot mostly on camera lenses designed in the 1960's, and also used only period special effects (no computers) to create the science fiction elements. Among his stellar cast he included John Phillip Law (star of "Danger Diabolik") and Kit Carson (star of "David Holzman's Diary").
CQ was released in 2001, and is 88 minutes long. It stars Jeremy Davies, Angela Lindvall, Elodie Bouchez, Gerard Depardieu, Giancarlo Giannini, Dean Stockwell, Jason Schwartzman and Billy Zane.
Music by Mellow.