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Jean Luc Godard

By User:AllieCashel @timeAndDate(1279225190) One of the founders of the French New Wave movement, this French and Swiss filmmaker was famous for his constant challenge of the tradition of classic Hollywood cinema. When watching one of Godard's pictures it is impossible not to notice the influences of radicalism, his own political ideologies and his impressive knowledge of film history. He is often considered to be the most experimental of all the directors of the New Wave as he constantly took advantage of unconventional editing and directorial techniques such as jump shots, character asides and constant references to older movies and stories. Even today, his work is considered as rather strange but was undeniably some of the most influential the world has yet seen.

Political Influence

One of the most notable and ground breaking characteristics of Godard's work was his fearless inclusion of his own political beliefs. His hatred of war and promotion of Marxism and Communism were almost always present in his films and were sometimes even abundantly clear. Though this may not seem like a big deal today, at the time of their release all of his movies were considered exceptionally blunt and uncomfortably honest, a trait that probably made this director quite proud. Godard began to include politics very early in his career through a depiction of the Algerian War of Independence in ''Le Petit Soldat ''and continued to do so all the way through to the obvious depiction of his Marxist disposition in ''La Chinoise''. He even released a series of short films exposing information about the Vietnam War that directly addressed the hardship that was going on there, something many French people had yet to see. Though it isn't as obvious in all of his work, this boundary breaking mentality turned Jean Luc Godard into one of the most respected directors in the business. 

Popular Godard Films

'''''Breathless''''' wrote with fellow director Francois Truffaut in the years before its 1960 release. It tells the story of a young, attractive criminal who models himself after Humphry Bogard, his run from the police, and his complex relationship with his American girlfriend. Each frame has a very spontaneous, natural feel and on top of this free style, Godard decided to incorporate many techniques that came to be known as the trademarks of the New Wave movement. '''''Le Petit Soldat''''' - Through it was made only a year after ''Breathless'', ''Le Petit Soldat'' was not released until 1963, as it was originally banned by the French government. It deals with the radically controversial Algerian War for Independence and the cruelty of all participants. This was Godard's first attempt at creating art that depicted the truth, regardless of the potential consequences. It's hard to watch even for today's jaded audiences, as brings up issues in society that have yet to be fully dealt with. '''''Vivre Sa Vie''''' - This emotionally loaded picture, which was incredibly well received by critics upon its release in 1932, tells the story of a errant mother and aspiring actress who is struggling financially and turns to prostitution to help protect her family. The entire story revolves around her rationalization that she has made the right choice and is still a free individual, but as it progresses this becomes harder and harder to rationalize. Like ''Breathless ''Godard focuses on the liberated style that made the New Wave movement so influential '''''La Chinoise''''' - The making of this 1967 film brought Godard's political views to the forefront of every viewers mind. It tells the story of a group of violent students who belong to a radical Maoist group called the "Aden Arabie Cell", with some of the New Left ideas coming out of the student activist groups in France. This is one of the director's most widely seen films, and continues to have an impact on the thoughts and opinions of audiences, critics and film makers alike. '''''Week End''''' about scenes in the history of the industry, including one 15 minute tracking shot of the couple stuck in a traffic jam. Though it may not be everyone's taste, as one of the most influential films of all time, it should not be missed. Other popular Godard films include ''Une femme mariée''.

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