How cool is that! Richard Linklater’s homage to Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 masterpiece will leave you breathless

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Verdict: Ineffably cool

Richard Linklater is, in my opinion, the most compelling and one of the best filmmakers working today. His film Boyhood (2014) stands out as a potential film of the century, and he’s also known for delightful movies like Before Sunrise (1995) and its sequels, the fun comedy School of Rock (2003), and the charming Hit Man (2023).

He’s also composing a large-scale musical called Merrily We Roll Along, a project he anticipates working on for another 15 years.

Linklater also isn’t afraid to make films that explore his personal interest in the entertainment industry. In fact, he’s released two such movies recently this year.

He first gained recognition with Blue Moon, a captivating and somewhat sad portrayal of a night in the life of songwriter Lorenz Hart, presented in a dramatic style.

Nouvelle Vague is a charming new film, shot in black and white, that tells the story of how Jean-Luc Godard made his classic 1960 movie, Breathless.

Jean-Luc Godard is widely considered the most important French filmmaker. He was a leader of the New Wave movement, which revolutionized filmmaking techniques.

Godard’s first film, Breathless, is widely considered his best. While understanding the French New Wave is enhanced by watching it—and even more by enjoying it—it’s not a requirement.

Linklater creates a wonderfully engaging atmosphere and tells the story with such enthusiasm that it’s captivating, even if you’ve never heard of Godard.

The film introduces Jean-Paul Belmondo as Michel, a small-time crook, and features Jean Seberg as his American girlfriend, Patricia. Actors Aubry Dullin and Zoey Deutch portray these characters, respectively.

Michel, much like director Jean-Luc Godard (played by Guillaume Marbeck), loves classic American film noir. However, his fascination with Humphrey Bogart leads him to extreme behavior – after accidentally killing a police officer, he’s forced to flee.

Jean-Luc Godard, still in his late twenties, faced a tight deadline of just twenty days to complete the movie, and his disagreements with the producer were so intense they even led to a physical fight in public.

Let me tell you, when you’re really working with a shoestring budget, you get creative! This filmmaker I know actually used a postman’s trolley to hide his camera – a brilliant way to avoid extra equipment costs. But honestly, the first day of shooting was a bit of a disaster. He wrapped up after only two hours because he completely hit a creative wall. It just goes to show, sometimes even the best planning can’t account for a sudden lack of inspiration!

Seberg eventually questions whether he’s inventing things as he speaks, and disturbingly, he often is.

I first saw Nouvelle Vague at the Cannes Film Festival last year, and it was very well-received by the audience. Despite being directed by an American, the largely French crowd didn’t seem to mind.

It’s not a perfect film: Dullin might look like Belmondo but lacks his fizzing charisma.

I absolutely loved this movie! It’s just unbelievably cool, and the way it’s made – so reminiscent of ‘Breathless’ – is brilliant. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable experience.

Nouvelle Vague is in select cinemas now.

 

 ALSO SHOWING…

Verdict: Bouncy and bittersweet

Kangaroo shows how wild and unpredictable animals can be. While another new release, Primate, is a scary and violent horror movie about the dangers of owning a chimpanzee, Kangaroo explores this theme as a family-friendly film.

Kangaroo is a charming, yet sad, story about a Sydney weatherman (Ryan Corr) whose career falls apart after a mishap involving a dolphin.

He unexpectedly finds peace and a new purpose in the Australian Outback, connecting with a lively young girl named Lily Whiteley and sharing her love for caring for baby kangaroos.

Kangaroo is in major cinemas now.

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2026-01-31 02:19