It’s always been common for people to dream of directing films, but in France during the 1950s and 60s, it was a particularly passionate pursuit. The magazine Cahiers du Cinema was hugely influential among film lovers, and many of its writers went on to become successful directors. However, Jean-Luc Godard, one of those writers, was a bit of a latecomer to directing. He relentlessly convinced producer Georges de Neauregard to fund his film, which was difficult since he didn’t have a full script, just an outline. In fact, it was likely François Truffaut, already a celebrated director, who helped shape Godard’s film. Remarkably, Godard also persuaded Jean Seberg to star alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, a frequent collaborator of his. This film would launch all of their careers, and it was Breathless. Director Richard Linklater’s film, Nouvelle Vague, beautifully tells the story of how it was made.
Filmed in black and white with a classic 4:3 aspect ratio – even including the old-fashioned film reel changeover mark – this movie pays homage to the French New Wave cinema of its time. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the filmmaking process, highlighting Godard’s relaxed and unconventional approach, which often frustrated his producer. He’d sometimes only shoot for an hour, or even not at all on certain days. Despite this, the film was a huge success upon its release.
This movie is essentially about the process of filmmaking itself, and its impact is hard to overstate. It was hugely influential – for example, Tarantino directly borrowed from a dance scene in this film when creating the iconic diner scene with Travolta and Thurman in ‘Pulp Fiction’.
Marbeck delivers a compelling performance as Godard, convincingly portraying his iconic look with sunglasses he rarely removes, even indoors – creating a slightly melancholic impression. While the film, Nouvelle Vague, might be a bit lengthy, it’s a love letter to both Godard, the French New Wave, and the art of filmmaking itself, making it a worthwhile watch.
Here’s the Nouvelle Vague trailer….
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2026-01-29 20:23