After all, with her petite frame, cropped hairdo, and identical occupation, Shirley Clarke clearly functions as a cipher for Varda in Lions Love. Late in the film, this is made still plainer in a seemingly spontaneous scene in which Shirley’s character, stressed about the pressures placed on her by the Hollywood producers who have hired her, attempts suicide. Shirley throws back some pills and immediately chokes, breaking character: “I just can’t do it, Agnès…. This whole thing is not my style.” Without cutting, and with visible irritation, Agnès puts on Shirley’s wardrobe and steps in to do the scene for her – “I’m just trying to make a movie, Shirley!” – until Clarke relents and steps back into character. http://www.notcoming.com/reviews/lionslove2