Jon Jost made five appearances at Cinematheque between 1971-81. Jost’s first feature-length film, Speaking Directly: Some American Notes (1973), is a wry personal essay made a few years after his 27-month stint in prison for draft dodging. Made in Montana on a miniscule budget, this critique of America in the early 70s is brilliantly idiosyncratic reflection on society, filmmaking and how one chooses to live one’s life. (Irina Leimbacher)