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One of the most influential filmmakers of his time and a true icon of the French New Wave movement, Jean-Luc Godard is a legend, both to those who make cinema and those who merely enjoy watching it. A prolific director with well over 100 works to his credit and an impressive and lengthy career that spanned some six decades, Godard helped revolutionize film as we know it, thanks to his innovative cinematic techniques and unconventional directing style. Yet, despite the profound and irrefutable impact hes had on the medium and all who work within it, surprisingly, there haven't been very many movies made about the man himself — that is, until now. Enter director Richard Linklater, whose 26th feature film, Nouvelle Vague, tells the story of Godard's transition from movie critic to filmmaker. Set in 1956, Guillaume Marbeck plays Godard, a writer for Cahiers du Cinéma, one of France's most prestigious film journals, who's offered the chance by producer Georges de Beauregard (Bruno Dreyfürst) to make his first movie. Gathering a small crew of his closest friends and most trusted collaborators, as well as hiring boxer-turned-actor Jean-Paul Belmondo (Aubry Dullin) and Hollywood starlet Jean Seberg (Zoey Deutch) to star, Jean-Luc sets out to shoot his debut feature, Breathless, on the streets of Paris guerrilla-style — with a handheld camera, no permits, and no scripted dialogue to speak of. But with only 20 days to finish filming, his producer on his back about the lackadaisical shooting style, and his lead actress second-guessing her decision to accept the role, Will Jean-Luc get around to actually completing his masterpiece? Or is he destined to be the only critic from Cahiers du Cinéma who has yet to direct their own film? Presented in black and white, the result will make viewers feel as if they're a fly on the wall during the making of Breathless. But while it's a given that audiences familiar with Godard's work will get the most out of this movie, there's still enough here to keep those with only a passing interesting in filmmaking entertained. Breezy and lighthearted, Nouvelle Vague doesn't take itself too seriously. Quite the contrary, this authentic-to-the-era love letter to one of cinema's most pivotal movements is as whimsical as they come. And when it comes to tributes, it's safe to say that Godard himself wouldn't have wanted it any other way. |
Nouvelle Vague screens under the Special Presentations programme at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Its runtime is 1 hr. 46 min.
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