Jean-Luc Godard RIP

johnny_ultimate

If you'd have asked me who the greatest living director was in the last few years, there's no question I'd have said Jean-Luc Godard. Alas, aged 91, we've lost the legend.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/13/jean-luc-godard-giant-of-the-french-new-wave-dies-at-91

Like many, I discovered Godard in college with his New Wave masterpieces like Breathless, Alphaville and - most formatively for me - Weekend. His abrasive, experimental style didn't always work for me, but when I watched Weekend I immediately got what all of the fuss was about. As playful as it was angry, it was a film that played by no rules other than its own - packed with formal invention and humour.

His films could be angry and extremely political (especially in his more radical periods), but also moving and beautiful. My joint favourite Godard is Vivre Sa Vie starring the luminous Anna Karina, while films like Masculin Féminin hop along with youthful energy, wit and sexuality... albeit frequently interrupted by JLG's trademark bold text intertitles being aggressively intercut into the flow. Of course, he's a 'difficult' filmmaker - with many of his films actively challenging the simple structures of film-making form, all but trolling the audience. But god it can be exhilarating to watch.

My other joint favourite is Goodbye to Language, the only film anybody ever needs to see in 3D (seriously). That was made when he was well into his 80s, which sums up JLG perfectly: a man who kept experimenting and refusing to conform to anyone's expectations. He was informed by a deep love and affection of cinema, but equally a deep distrust of the expected standards (commercial and artistic) of movie-making. A legend. A radical. JLG.

johnny_ultimate

Great obit from Peter Bradshaw here that gets at the essence of what made Godard Godard.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2022/sep/13/jean-luc-godard-dead-breathless-bardot-french-new-wave

Fysh

One of those directors I've had on my "I really should watch at least some of their films" list for years.

This autumn/winter season seems as good a time as any to actually get around to them...

johnny_ultimate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611426#Comment_119611426

He is a hard director to get into because his films are often so abrasive and unconventional. I actually find Breathless and Contempt - by far his most famous works - two of his more difficult films to watch, as they're quite cold and clinical by design.

Personally, I think some of his 60s films like Masculin Féminin, A Woman Is a Woman, Vivre Sa Vie and Bande á part are the best entry points as they're warmer films in many ways without losing that fundamental essence. Something like Week-end will give you a better sense of the more experimental Godard, before he went full radical in the 70s and beyond. I've only seen a scattered few of the films he directed post-1967: one of the densest and more challenging filmographies of any filmmaker, and even finding most of them to watch is a challenge.

Fysh

Thanks for the suggestions 🙂

I'm sure part of the reason I've left it this long is that his shadow looms large across cinema and his reputation makes finding an entry point into his filmography quite intimidating. (Mind you, I feel similarly about Bergman despite having seen - and really appreciated - The Seventh Seal almost 20 years ago, so maybe some of my issue isn't about the director... 😅)

Being honest I wouldn't be familiar with many of his films at all and he wouldn't really be known for hitting the heights of his early career in the last 50 years but I will say that "Au bout de souffle" / "Breathless" (1960) which I've watched a few times and even recently enough, which is his very first feature film, holds up brilliantly - it's amazing how well in that respect actually.

Hangdogroad

He inadvertently inspired at least one Fr Ted episode with his 1985 film Hail Mary.

https://youtu.be/adh58llAw-c

RobbingBandit

Really want to see King Lear now. RIP