Ne Change Rien

Portugal's Pedro Costa spent years making this meditative music documentary about French actress/singer Jeanne Balibar, which he started filming before 2006's Colossal Youth, picking up the project afterwards. In both cases, Balibar shot in black-and-white, but because he eschews artificial light, most scenes are shrouded in darkness, which fits the smoky alto's nocturnal style. Balibar isn't the most expressive vocalist, but Costa prefers languid types. Absent narration or storyline, the documentary serves up a series of rehearsals and performances in which Balibar talks, sings, smokes, and works things out with her band (offering an insightful snapshot of the creative process itself). At one point Balibar says, “We should really try to bring out the silences,” a stylistic choice that Costa himself sometimes follows in his own way (the director even includes a voice lesson in which Balibar receives instruction from an unseen coach). Although her ensemble includes bass, drums, and keyboards, voice and guitar take center stage more often than not, resulting in a slow-motion mélange of jazz, chanson, and electronica. DVD extras include Costa's short film “The End of a Love Affair,” deleted scenes, and musical sketches. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)