Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Breathless (1960) the French New Wave Film

September 04, 2018
Breathless is a French New Wave crime drama film written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard in 1960. The film is about a wandering criminal (Jean-Paul Belmendo) and his American girlfriend (Jean Seberg). It was the first feature film of Jean-Luc Godard and Jean Paul Belmendo became successful as an actor through this film. Breathless was one of the earliest films of French New Wave cinemas. The film was attracted by the people most for its bold visual style and unconventional use of jump cuts. Story: Actually the story of the film 'Breathless' was based on a newspaper article that Francois Truffaut read in The News in Brief. The character of Michel Poiccard is based on real life Michel Portail and his American girlfriend and journalist Beverly Lynette Portail stole a car to visit his sick mother in Le Havre and ended up killing a motorcycle cop named Grimberg. At last Truffaut made a treatment for the story with Claude Chabrol. Plot: Michel a dangerous criminal steals a car in Marseille and a police follows him. But Michel shoots and kills the policeman and flies away. He goes to his American lover Patricia who is a student and aspiring journalist and sells the New York Herald Tribune on the streets of Paris. Patricia hides him to her apartment. She is pregnant, perhaps with Michel's child. The police look for Michel everywhere. But they can not find him. But Patricia betrays him. Before police arrive, she tells Michel that she has done that work. At first, he is resigned to a life in prison and does not try to escape. The police shoot him in the street and after a prolonged death run, he dies out of death (Breathless). Cinematography: Raoul Coutard is the cinematographer of the film. At forst, Godard had wnated Michel Latouche as a cinematographer after working with him on his first short film. But De Beauregard hired Raoul Coutard instead of him who was under contract to him. Firstly, for telling about the cinematography of the film, we have to describe/know its use of shots, Mise-en-scene and the use of light. Shots: In this film various kinds of shots have been used in an artistic way. Camera movement is also an important characteristic of this film. There have been used the shots in various kinds of angles. We see here eye angle, top angle, low angle and some others. Besides, various kinds of shots have been used for example; close shot, extreme close shot, mid shot, wide, long etc. Mise-en-scene: Mise-en-scene means the arrangement of scenery and props. It is an outdoor shot film. The whole film is shot in outdoor. So, the cinematographer have captured the natural scenery that can easily attract the audiences. The film is reality based. This kind of film has made a new style rules in film history for film making. Specially we can see Patricia's apartment as for example. Director did not make set for the film. But he has taken his home or friend's home as set of the film. For set design, there need much money. But this kind of film has been made in very low budget. Which we can see in the scene, are real object/home not set. Light: Artificial light has not been used in this film. The crews have helped to use the natural light. They have made flood light using natural light. In everywhere, from first to last scene of the film, we can see natural light. Director has used only natural light. The use of natural light in this film is very important because it has lessened cost. Natural light is more valuable than artificial light. Acting: Sometimes, it seems the acting of the characters is conscious but sometimes it seems it is not conscious. It is natural. It is reality based. The movement of Michel and Patricia in this film seem natural but the event of Michel's death seems conscious. Sound and Music: Music of the film is composed by Matial Solal. The background music of the film is very important to the audiences. Specially, the audiences want to hear background sound and music along with scenery. The film has many jump cuts. But the music has kept the continuity of the film along with the scenery. Editing: It is a new style film and French New wave film. There are many jump cuts in this film. There is not continuity of the shots and sequences. But it is a full length film. It has created a meaning. It has acclaimed many criticisms for its jump cuts. The film is edited by Cecile Decugis. He edited it with a new style. It has created a new wave in world film history.
Breathless (1960) the French New Wave Film_BD Films Info

Breathless is a French New Wave crime drama film written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard in 1960. The film is about a wandering criminal (Jean-Paul Belmendo) and his American girlfriend (Jean Seberg). It was the first feature film of Jean-Luc Godard and Jean Paul Belmendo became successful as an actor through this film. Breathless was one of the earliest films of French New Wave cinemas. The film was attracted by the people most for its bold visual style and unconventional use of jump cuts.

Story: 
Actually the story of the film 'Breathless' was based on a newspaper article that Francois Truffaut read in The News in Brief. The character of Michel Poiccard is based on real life Michel Portail and his American girlfriend and journalist Beverly Lynette Portail stole a car to visit his sick mother in Le Havre and ended up killing a motorcycle cop named Grimberg. At last Truffaut made a treatment for the story with Claude Chabrol.

Plot:
Michel a dangerous criminal steals a car in Marseille and a police follows him. But Michel shoots and kills the policeman and flies away. He goes to his American lover Patricia who is a student and aspiring journalist and sells the New York Herald Tribune on the streets of Paris. Patricia hides him to her apartment. She is pregnant, perhaps with Michel's child. The police look for Michel everywhere. But they can not find him. But Patricia betrays him. Before police arrive, she tells Michel that she has done that work. At first, he is resigned to a life in prison and does not try to escape. The police shoot him in the street and after a prolonged death run, he dies out of death (Breathless).

Cinematography:
Raoul Coutard is the cinematographer of the film. At forst, Godard had wnated Michel Latouche as a cinematographer after working with him on his first short film. But De Beauregard hired Raoul Coutard instead of him who was under contract to him. Firstly, for telling about the cinematography of the film, we have to describe/know  its use of shots, Mise-en-scene and the use of light.

Shots:
In this film various kinds of shots have been used in an artistic way. Camera movement is also an important characteristic of this film. There have been used the shots in various kinds of angles. We see here eye angle, top angle, low angle and some others. Besides, various kinds of shots have been used for example; close shot, extreme close shot, mid shot, wide, long etc.

Mise-en-scene:
Mise-en-scene means the arrangement of scenery and props. It is an outdoor shot film. The whole film is shot in outdoor. So, the cinematographer have captured the natural scenery that can easily attract the audiences. The film is reality based. This kind of film has made a new style rules in film history for film making. Specially we can see Patricia's apartment as for example. Director did not make set for the film. But he has taken his home or friend's home as set of the film. For set design, there need much money. But this kind of film has been made in very low budget. Which we can see in the scene, are real object/home not set.

Light: 
Artificial light has not been used in this film. The crews have helped to use the natural light. They have made flood light using natural light. In everywhere, from first to last scene of the film, we can see natural light. Director has used only natural light. The use of natural light in this film is very important because it has lessened cost. Natural light is more valuable than artificial light.

Acting: 
Sometimes, it seems the acting of the characters is conscious but sometimes it seems it is not conscious. It is natural. It is reality based. The movement of Michel and Patricia in this film seem natural but the event of Michel's death seems conscious.

Sound and Music:
Music of the film is composed by Matial Solal. The background music of the film is very important to the audiences. Specially, the audiences want to hear background sound and music along with scenery. The film has many jump cuts. But the music has kept the continuity of the film along with the scenery.

Editing:
It is a new style film and French New wave film. There are many jump cuts in this film. There is not continuity of the shots and sequences. But it is a full length film. It has created a meaning. It has  acclaimed many criticisms for its jump cuts. The film is edited by Cecile Decugis. He edited it with a new style. It has created a new wave in world film history.

Watch the official trailer of the film 'Breathless' (1960) here...


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