Godard

This biography explores the life and impact of Jean-Luc Godard, a pivotal figure in cinema who transformed film language and aesthetics, particularly during the French New Wave of the 1960s.

Godard delves into the life and work of Jean-Luc Godard, a filmmaker whose early projects fundamentally transformed the language of cinema. His influence reached far and wide, impacting everyone from Hollywood's emerging talents to filmmakers in the political cinema of the Third World. In a surprising turn in 1968, Godard chose to step away from a promising career in French cinema to explore the boundaries of sound and image, distancing himself from the industry he had once embraced.

The narrative traces Godard's early years, beginning with his sheltered childhood in Switzerland during World War II. Following the war, he became a restless teenager in Paris, where he defied conventional academic paths at the Sorbonne to engage with the innovative teachings of renowned film critic André Bazin. Alongside fellow critics like François Truffaut and Éric Rohmer, Godard contributed to Cahiers du Cinéma, where they collectively shaped a new cinematic aesthetic that would define the French New Wave movement in the late 1950s.

In the first decade of his career, Godard produced a remarkable body of work, including iconic films such as À Bout de Souffle,Le Petit Soldat, and Pierrot Le Fou. His adventurous spirit and enigmatic style have solidified his status as one of the most significant filmmakers of the late twentieth century. This biography not only highlights his contributions to cinema but also features photographs and stills from his classic films, offering a visual journey through the life of this influential director.