Jean-Luc Godard is one of my least favorite of the New Wave French film directors. I think his films are cruel and violent.
But, Godard's first feature-length film, Breathless, or A Bout de Souffle, has a charm and wit about it, despite its intermittent violence. Godard's films are about corruption. It is charmingly displayed as in Breathless, or is violently, cruelly and sadistically shown in his later films.
I think Breathless' charm has to do with Jean Seberg's character Patricia Franchini, the American (Girl) in Paris. Seberg had a volatile personal life. Her early life was also clouded by the suicide of her brother. It is not surprising that she was attracted to Godard, and to Breathless. Like all astute people, and those alert to people's sufferings and weaknesses, Godard must have sensed Seberg's sadness, and emotional instability. Her whimsical, fresh looks is perfect for Breathless, and it is her very charm and (initial) innocence that underscores the violence of Breathless. The ending, with its deaths and betrayal, contrasts with the light and fresh beginning. Patricia comes out unharmed, at least physically. But, we sense in the final scenes that she has been damaged, standing lost and alone, unlike the confident and resourceful girl we saw at the beginning. Godard, and Belmondo's character Michel Poiccard, have corrupted her.
Final scenes of Breathless
Patricia in the streets of Paris selling the New York Herald Tribune,
at one of her first encounters with Poiccard.
Here is a detailed write-up on the film by an obvious fan. As well as describing the film, it references its influences, both American gangster movies and a continuation of the French New Wave movement.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------