Thirteen films from La Nouvelle Vague.
. I have chosen to write a little appreciation of my favorite thirteen movies from The French New Wave. Four are directed by Godard, three by Truffaut, two by Resnais, and one each by Chabrol, Demy, Malle, and Varda.The forerunner of the film movement is Agnès Varda’s debut “La Pointe Courte” or “Short Point.” However, the movement proper is thought to begin with Claude Chabrol’s “Le Beau Serge” three years later. My favorite thirteen films were made between the years 1958 and 1964 at the height of La Nouvelle Vague. This was before Jean-Luc Godard seemed to lose his joy in making movies. In addition, the “style” of the movement began to fall apart around 1964.
The Left Bank and New Modern Cinema.
As with a lot of New Wave retrospectives, the program includes the works of some French film directors who were part of different film movements. For instance, the Left Bank (Alain Resnais and Varda herself) and New Modern Cinema (Louis Malle). These movements are often lumped with the French New Wave.
The Cinematographers
Kudos to the great cinematographer Raoul Coutard. He gave the French New Wave its “look”. And Henri Decaé, who preceded him, photographed “The 400 Blows” and Le Beau Serge.” In working with Alain Renais and Agnès Varda, respectively, Sacha Vierney and Jean Rabier deserve mention.
So, welcome to La Nouvelle Vague Français and its world of jump cuts, long takes, endless montages, and the chicest of movie stars.
| YEAR | MY RATING | FILM | DIRECTOR (cinematographer) | FILM GROUP |
| 1958 | A | Elevator to the Gallows (Ascenseur pour l’échafaud) Louis Malle’s Debut. Jeanne Moreau The direct translation is “Elevator to the Scaffold”. | Louis Malle (Henri Decaé) | Film Noir. New Modern Cinema. |
| 1958 | B+ | Le Beau Serge (Handsome Serge) Chabrol’s Debut GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST FRENCH NEW WAVE FILM. Jean-Claude Brialy and Gérard Blain also feature in Chabrol’s next film, “Les Cousins” (1959), which you can also see on The Criterion Channel. | Claude Chabrol (Henri Decaé) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1959 | A+ | The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups) Truffaut’s Debut The Greatest French New Wave Film Jean-Pierre Léaud | Francois Truffaut (Henri Decaé) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1959 | A- | Hiroshima My Love (Hiroshima Mon Amour) Renais’ Feature Debut Emmanuelle Riva | Alain Resnais (Sacha Vierney) | Rive Gauche |
| 1960 | A+ | Breathless (A Bout de Souffle) Godard’s debut The second greatest and most emblematic French New Wave Film Jean Seberg Jean-Paul Belmondo | Jean-Luc Godard (Raoul Coutard) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1960 | B+ | Shoot the Piano Player (Tirez sur le Pianiste) Charles Aznavour | Francois Truffaut (Raoul Coutard) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1961 | B+ | Lola Demy’s Debut Anouk Aimée | Jacques Demy (Raoul Coutard) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1962 | A– | Cleo from 5 to 7 (Cleo de 5 à 7) Varda’s second film follows “La Point Courte” (1955). Corinne Marchand | Agnès Varda (Jean Rabier) | Rive Gauche |
| 1962 | A- | Jules and Jim (Jules et Jim) Jeanne Moreau | Francois Truffaut (Raoul Coutard) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1962 | A– | My Life to Live (Vivre sa Vie) The second of eight Movies that Godard made with actress Anna Karina. | Jean-Luc Godard (Raoul Coutard) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1963 | B+ | Muriel Delphine Seyrig | Alain Resnais (Sacha Vierney) | Rive Gauche |
| 1963 | A | Contempt (Le Mepris). Brigitte Bardot’s most unforgettable performance. Godard goes Hollywood – a little. The haunting score is by Georges Delerue | Jean-Luc Godard (Raoul Coutard) | Nouvelle Vague |
| 1964 | A– | Band of Outsiders (Bande à part) Godard’s most joyous film with its two unforgettable sequences: the run through the Louvre Museum and the famous dance scene with Franz, Arthur, and Odile (Claude Brasseur, Sami Frey, and Anna Karina) doing la danse de “Madison” (the “Madison” dance). Music composed by Michel Legrand. Inspiration for the Uma Thurman/John Travolta number in “Pulp Fiction”. | Jean-Luc Godard (Raoul Coutard) | Nouvelle Vague |
