Mathieu Macheret is a leading French film critic and journalist, best known for his work at Le Monde, where he examines cinema through the intertwined lenses of history, philosophy, and the politics of images. His writing treats film as a living witness to its era rather than a purely aesthetic object, attentive to how stories, forms, and characters absorb the tensions of their time. This perspective has made him a key voice in contemporary criticism, frequently invited to speak about movements like Italian Neorealism or the interior lives of characters in modern cinema.

Alongside his contributions to Cahiers du Cinéma, Macheret often reflects on the shifting landscape of film journalism. He has been outspoken about the pressures created by digital platforms and the expectation that critics cover every new release, a rhythm that can limit the freedom to “elect” certain films as deeper objects of thought. His concerns point to a broader transformation of the “institutional spaces” of criticism, where speed and volume sometimes overshadow the slow, reflective work that has long defined the craft.

His curiosity extends beyond cinema to theatre and other art forms, which nourish his thinking about narrative, performance, and the relationship to text. Whether speaking at festivals like Entrevues Belfort or participating in masterclasses, he consistently returns to the idea that cinema’s essence—its immaterial, resilient nature—will outlast technological shifts. For Macheret, film remains a medium capable of reinventing itself while continuing to shape how we see the world.