---
title: "The Gleaners and I (2000) review"
description: "I have such a soft spot for early digital documentaries, and The Gleaners and I completely scratches that itch. That lo-fi digital aesthetic - the ad hoc..."
url: https://www.joekarlsson.com/reviews/the-gleaners-and-i/
---

![A still from The Gleaners and I (2000)](https://www.joekarlsson.com/images/reviews/the-gleaners-and-i/backdrop.webp)

# The Gleaners and I (2000)

Oct 2, 2025 | Rated 3.5 out of 5 | Dir. Agnès Varda

I have such a soft spot for early digital documentaries, and The Gleaners and I completely scratches that itch. That lo-fi digital aesthetic - the ad hoc, homemade feeling paired with sharp editing and a wonderful soundtrack - just works for me in a way that’s hard to articulate.

This is a perfect autumnal film. Short, contemplative, and ultimately about the unexpected discoveries that come from being open to what’s been discarded - both by society at large and by the individuals within it. There’s something beautiful about finding value in what others have cast aside.

But honestly, this movie made me deeply appreciate the French in a way I wasn’t expecting. The fact that gleaning laws like this exist and are actually permitted - that people can legally gather leftover crops and discarded food without it being seen as theft - is incredible. It’s almost impossible to imagine something like this being allowed in the US because it might impact sales numbers. That’s such a shame, and Varda captures exactly why that loss matters.

If you’re in the mood for something gentle, thoughtful, and visually lovely, this is it.

Also on [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/joekarlsson/film/the-gleaners-and-i/)

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Joe  
Karlsson

I write about my homelab, AI tools, databases, and the weird stuff I build on the side.

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