Rickey’s book often reads as briskly as a fast-paced thriller. Her captivating portrayal of Varda is enriched by the back stories of the director’s friendships ... Rickey might have been better able to capture the messier, rule-breaking, genre-blurring spirit of her subject with a more novelistic approach. A Complicated Passion is, nevertheless, both intellectually satisfying and inspiring, qualities that more than compensate.
Compact, complete, and highly enjoyable ... Rickey’s book on Varda reminded me of when I first saw Varda’s films and when I read all the critics in all the papers in Boston
Immersive ... While providing colorful anecdotes from friends and luminaries in Varda's orbit, Rickey falls short of fully capturing the essence of her mercurial, enigmatic personality. Nevertheless, the author proves adept at depicting her subject’s trailblazing influence and unique cinematic vision.
