Curated List
The French New Wave
Three films from France, 1959 to 1962
The French New Wave refers to a body of films made in France from the late 1950s. Most of the directors had written criticism first, many of them at Cahiers du Cinéma, and their films were commonly made cheaply, on location and with handheld cameras. One of the three here is by Truffaut and two are by Godard.
- 01
The 400 Blows
Les quatre cents coups · 1959
François Truffaut
Truffaut's first feature, from 1959, starring Jean-Pierre Léaud and drawn from the director's own adolescence. It won the directing prize at Cannes that year.
- 02
Breathless
À bout de souffle · 1960
Jean-Luc Godard
Godard's first feature, from 1960, worked up from an outline by Truffaut. It took the Silver Bear for direction at Berlin.
- 03
Vivre sa Vie
Vivre sa vie · 1962
Jean-Luc Godard
Godard's 1962 film, with Anna Karina, divided into twelve sections each introduced by a title card. It received the special jury prize at Venice.