4.2 French New Wave

The French New Wave revolutionized cinema in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Young filmmakers like Godard and Truffaut challenged traditional conventions, experimenting with narrative structure, editing techniques, and on-location shooting to create a new cinematic language.

This movement reflected post-war disillusionment and youth rebellion in France. It emphasized personal expression, social critique, and artistic innovation, influencing generations of filmmakers worldwide and paving the way for independent cinema.

Origins of French New Wave

• The French New Wave emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a revolutionary movement in cinema that challenged traditional filmmaking conventions and reflected the changing social and cultural landscape of post-war France
• The movement was characterized by a spirit of experimentation, innovation, and rebellion against the established norms of the film industry, as well as a deep engagement with the social and political issues of the time

Post-war disillusionment

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• French New Wave filmmakers were deeply influenced by the sense of disillusionment and alienation that pervaded French society in the aftermath of World War II
• They sought to capture the mood of a generation that had grown skeptical of traditional values and institutions, and to explore themes of existential crisis, social critique, and personal identity

Rejection of traditional cinema

• The French New Wave rejected the conventions of classical Hollywood cinema, which they saw as formulaic, artificial, and disconnected from the realities of modern life
• They challenged the dominant "cinema of quality" in France, which emphasized literary adaptations, historical dramas, and polished production values, in favor of a more raw, spontaneous, and personal approach to filmmaking

Influence of Italian Neorealism

• French New Wave filmmakers were heavily influenced by the Italian Neorealist movement of the 1940s and 1950s, which emphasized location shooting, non-professional actors, and a focus on the everyday lives of ordinary people
• They sought to bring a similar sense of authenticity and social realism to their own films, while also experimenting with more unconventional narrative and visual techniques

Cahiers du Cinéma critics

• Many of the key figures of the French New Wave began their careers as critics for the influential film journal Cahiers du Cinéma, where they developed their ideas about the role of the director as the primary creative force in filmmaking (the "auteur theory")
• Through their writings, they championed the work of Hollywood directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Howard Hawks, as well as European filmmakers like Roberto Rossellini and Jean Renoir, and helped to lay the theoretical foundations for the New Wave movement

Key figures in French New Wave

• The French New Wave was led by a group of young filmmakers who emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, many of whom had worked together as critics at Cahiers du Cinéma before making the transition to directing their own films
• These filmmakers shared a passion for cinema, a desire to break free from the constraints of traditional filmmaking, and a commitment to exploring new forms of cinematic expression

Jean-Luc Godard

• Jean-Luc Godard was one of the most radical and influential filmmakers of the French New Wave, known for his innovative visual style, unconventional narrative structures, and provocative political themes
• His debut feature, Breathless (1960), is considered a landmark of the movement, with its groundbreaking use of jump cuts, handheld camera work, and improvisational acting

François Truffaut

• François Truffaut was another key figure of the French New Wave, known for his deeply personal and autobiographical approach to filmmaking, as well as his mastery of the coming-of-age genre
• His first feature, The 400 Blows (1959), is a classic of the movement, telling the story of a troubled adolescent boy in Paris and drawing on Truffaut's own experiences as a youth

Claude Chabrol

• Claude Chabrol was one of the most prolific filmmakers of the French New Wave, directing over 50 features in a career that spanned more than four decades
• He was known for his dark, suspenseful thrillers that often explored themes of bourgeois hypocrisy, sexual transgression, and psychological manipulation

Éric Rohmer

• Éric Rohmer was a key figure of the French New Wave, known for his understated, dialogue-driven films that explored the complexities of human relationships and moral dilemmas
• His "Six Moral Tales" series, which includes films like My Night at Maud's (1969) and Claire's Knee (1970), is considered a masterpiece of the movement

Jacques Rivette

• Jacques Rivette was a more experimental and avant-garde filmmaker within the French New Wave, known for his lengthy, improvisational films that blurred the lines between fiction and reality
• His most famous work, Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974), is a surreal, playful exploration of female friendship and the nature of storytelling

Stylistic elements of French New Wave

• The French New Wave was characterized by a distinctive visual style and approach to filmmaking that broke with the conventions of classical cinema and emphasized spontaneity, experimentation, and personal expression
• These stylistic elements helped to define the movement and influenced generations of filmmakers around the world

Unconventional narrative structures

• French New Wave films often rejected traditional linear narratives in favor of more fragmented, episodic, or circular structures that challenged the viewer's expectations and required active engagement with the film
• This could include the use of flashbacks, flash-forwards, dream sequences, or other non-linear devices that disrupted the chronological flow of the story

Rejection of classical continuity editing

• The French New Wave rejected the smooth, seamless editing style of classical Hollywood cinema, which aimed to create a sense of spatial and temporal continuity between shots
• Instead, they favored a more disruptive, discontinuous approach to editing that drew attention to the artifice of the medium and the presence of the filmmaker behind the camera

Experimentation with jump cuts

• One of the most famous techniques associated with the French New Wave was the use of jump cuts, which involved abrupt, jarring transitions between shots that broke the continuity of the action
• This technique was pioneered by Jean-Luc Godard in films like Breathless (1960) and became a hallmark of the movement's rebellious, anti-establishment spirit

Use of handheld cameras

• French New Wave filmmakers often used lightweight, handheld cameras to capture a sense of spontaneity and immediacy in their films
• This allowed them to shoot on location in real-world settings and to improvise with their actors, creating a more naturalistic and authentic style of filmmaking

Shooting on location vs studio sets

• In contrast to the artificial, studio-bound productions of the "cinema of quality," French New Wave films were often shot on location in the streets, cafes, and apartments of Paris and other French cities
• This helped to create a sense of realism and authenticity in the films, as well as to capture the energy and atmosphere of the urban environment

Incorporation of documentary techniques

• Many French New Wave films blurred the lines between fiction and documentary, incorporating elements of real-life footage, interviews, or other non-fictional techniques into their narratives
• This helped to create a sense of immediacy and social relevance in the films, as well as to challenge the viewer's assumptions about the nature of cinematic reality

Breaking of fourth wall

• Some French New Wave films broke the "fourth wall" of the cinema screen, directly addressing the audience or acknowledging the presence of the camera and the filmmaking process
• This self-reflexive technique was used to challenge the viewer's suspension of disbelief and to draw attention to the constructed nature of the cinematic experience

Themes in French New Wave films

• The French New Wave was characterized by a set of recurring themes and preoccupations that reflected the social, cultural, and political climate of post-war France, as well as the personal experiences and concerns of the filmmakers themselves
• These themes helped to define the movement and to distinguish it from the more conventional and escapist fare of mainstream cinema

Youth and rebellion

• Many French New Wave films focused on the experiences and perspectives of young people, often portraying them as rebels or outsiders who rejected the values and norms of traditional society
• This theme was reflected in the casting of young, unknown actors, as well as in the depiction of youthful angst, alienation, and the search for identity and meaning in a rapidly changing world

Existentialism and alienation

• The French New Wave was heavily influenced by the existentialist philosophy of writers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, which emphasized the absurdity and meaninglessness of human existence and the individual's responsibility to create their own values and purpose in life
• This theme was reflected in the portrayal of characters who were often isolated, disaffected, or struggling to find their place in a hostile or indifferent world

Social and political commentary

• Many French New Wave films engaged with the social and political issues of the day, often taking a critical or subversive stance towards the established order and the dominant ideologies of French society
• This could include critiques of consumerism, conformity, colonialism, or the hypocrisy and corruption of the bourgeoisie and the ruling class

Exploration of personal relationships

• The French New Wave often explored the complexities and ambiguities of human relationships, particularly romantic and sexual relationships, in a frank and unsentimental manner
• This could include depictions of love, desire, jealousy, betrayal, and the difficulty of communication and understanding between individuals

Blurring of reality and fiction

• Many French New Wave films blurred the boundaries between reality and fiction, often incorporating elements of improvisation, self-reflexivity, or meta-commentary on the nature of cinema and storytelling
• This theme was reflected in the use of unconventional narrative structures, the breaking of the fourth wall, and the incorporation of documentary techniques into fictional narratives

Influential French New Wave films

• The French New Wave produced a number of groundbreaking and influential films that helped to define the movement and to inspire generations of filmmakers around the world
• These films are notable for their innovative visual style, unconventional narratives, and engagement with social and political themes, as well as for the iconic performances of their stars and the enduring impact of their directors

Breathless (1960) by Jean-Luc Godard

• Breathless is a landmark of the French New Wave, known for its groundbreaking use of jump cuts, handheld camera work, and improvisational acting
• The film tells the story of a young car thief and his American girlfriend, played by Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg, as they navigate the streets of Paris and the consequences of their actions

The 400 Blows (1959) by François Truffaut

• The 400 Blows is a classic coming-of-age story that draws on Truffaut's own experiences as a troubled youth in Paris
• The film follows the story of Antoine Doinel, a young boy who rebels against the constraints of school and family life and ultimately finds himself in a reform school

Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) by Agnès Varda

• Cléo from 5 to 7 is a groundbreaking film by Agnès Varda, one of the few female directors associated with the French New Wave
• The film takes place in real time over the course of two hours, following a young singer as she awaits the results of a medical test that could reveal she has cancer

Hiroshima mon amour (1959) by Alain Resnais

• Hiroshima mon amour is a poetic and experimental film that explores the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima through the lens of a love affair between a French actress and a Japanese architect
• The film is notable for its non-linear narrative structure, its use of flashbacks and dream sequences, and its haunting exploration of memory, trauma, and the impossibility of fully understanding the past

Jules and Jim (1962) by François Truffaut

• Jules and Jim is a classic romantic drama that tells the story of two friends who fall in love with the same woman over the course of several decades
• The film is notable for its innovative visual style, its complex and ambiguous characters, and its exploration of the shifting dynamics of love and friendship over time

Impact of French New Wave

• The French New Wave had a profound and lasting impact on the history of cinema, both in France and around the world
• Its influence can be seen in the work of subsequent generations of filmmakers, as well as in the development of new cinematic movements and styles

Influence on American New Hollywood

• The French New Wave had a significant influence on the American New Hollywood movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which saw a new generation of filmmakers challenging the conventions of classical Hollywood cinema
• Directors like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman were heavily influenced by the French New Wave's emphasis on personal expression, unconventional narratives, and social and political commentary

Inspiration for other international new waves

• The French New Wave also inspired similar movements in other countries, such as the British New Wave, the Czech New Wave, and the Japanese New Wave
• These movements shared the French New Wave's commitment to innovation, experimentation, and social and political engagement, while also reflecting the unique cultural and historical contexts of their own countries

Lasting impact on independent filmmaking

• The French New Wave helped to pave the way for the rise of independent filmmaking around the world, by demonstrating the possibility of making low-budget, personal films outside the constraints of the commercial studio system
• Its emphasis on the director as the primary creative force behind a film (the "auteur theory") has become a cornerstone of independent and art-house cinema

Legacy in contemporary cinema

• The influence of the French New Wave can still be seen in contemporary cinema, from the use of handheld cameras and jump cuts in films like The Blair Witch Project (1999) and City of God (2002) to the self-reflexive, meta-cinematic techniques of directors like Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson
• Its legacy continues to inspire and challenge filmmakers to push the boundaries of the medium and to use cinema as a tool for personal expression and social and political commentary