Nouvelle Vague

Screened on Netflix.

Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless, for many the pinnacle of the French New Wave in cinema, is a great example of a film that has escaped me all these years. We all have them, and they're always shocking to hear; "What do you mean you haven't seen Jaws?" Perhaps a bit less so here, but still: unforgivable.

However, that perspective led me to realizing one of this film's strengths, which is whether you've seen Breathless or not, your own perspective will find its own way of enjoying this. For me, I'm now looking forward to finally checking out the film being portrayed here - the life of Breathless, from conception to its first test screening. As for Nouvelle Vague, I found it a fascinating watch, and a really beautiful one to look at, keeping in mind it's 100% influenced by, and in the style of Godard and his influential 1960 debut feature. Ahhh - good time to mention! Nouvelle Vague comes from American indie director Richard Linklater, whom some consider a pioneer in his own right, famous for Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, Boyhood, and many more. For the record, I am not one of those fanboys; I don't know what are they called, "Dink Linkers"?

I assume purists say this film is a major eyeroll, but for a novice to that genre like I am, I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to just about anyone who considers themselves a cinephile. In fact, my rating of **** 1/2 is less about this being some groundbreaking film itself, but more how it perfectly executes on representing the genre, the time period, the reputation of, and doing right by one of the most influential examples of the art form.

Whether you love film, or romanticize Paris all out of proportions (anyone get the reference?), this is for you.