Clear years

An intimate diary of love, fatherhood, and personal collapse

Shot over the course of nine years, Clear Years is an intimate autobiographical documentary directed by Frédéric Guillaume, who turns his camera towards the most vulnerable moments of his own life. Constantly filming as a way to make sense of the world around him, Guillaume begins documenting his experiences when he learns that his partner Claire is pregnant with their first child.

From an ayahuasca purification ritual in Peru, undertaken to prepare himself for fatherhood, to the birth of his daughter in the delivery room, the camera accompanies every major transformation in his life. Guillaume narrates the story with the honesty of a personal diary, reflecting on freedom, commitment, love, and the fears surrounding family life. Through touching observations, moments of self irony, and poetic reflections, the film captures the fragile balance between intimacy and independence in a contemporary relationship.

As the years pass, the relationship between Frédéric and Claire begins to fracture. Even during the most painful moments, including separation and emotional distance from his daughter, Guillaume continues filming, using the camera as “something to hold onto in troubled times.” Enhanced by delicate animated chapter introductions, Clear Years becomes both a love letter and a chronicle of personal rebirth. The documentary transforms everyday life into something deeply cinematic and universal, offering a frank and moving exploration of fatherhood, heartbreak, and resilience.