The Super 8 Years is a record of lives lived between 1972 and 1981. Annie Ernaux, working with her son David, has drawn together footage that was mostly shot by her ex-husband (and David’s father) Philippe. It’s a detailed account of domestic family life, at home and abroad, while also recording the period when Ernaux first became a published author. As a result, the film ultimately becomes a record of a marriage in a state of gradual decline, as well as the blossoming of her writing career. 

Like Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words, which also used home movies to explore a public figure’s private life, The Super 8 Years transcends its source material with Ernaux guiding us through her experiences of the events captured, adding texture, depth and context to give meaning to ambiguous expressions and sideways glances.

"[A] bittersweet look at the passage of time, delivered with a compelling blend of personal intimacy and broader societal upheaval." - Lisa Nesselson, Screen International