You know what the sore thumb on that list is? “A Married Woman”. No one ever, ever talks about that film. I only saw it once, years ago, and I don’t even really remember it. It’s the total blind spot in Godard’s great 60s.
I got the beautiful Eureka PAL DVD of it last year. I think you need to take another look at it. There’s a new NTSC of it out there now. It’s actually a pretty incredible film. Happy it’s in the middle of the day. I am looking forward to it. Use this as an opportunity to see it again!!
Wow, I don’t know if I could watch that much Godard in such a short time, without painting myself blue and blowing up! Drinking the whole time should help.
Yeah, maybe some mushrooms.
It’s the art cinema equivalent of running through the Louvre.
Fantastic marathon. Have you considered keying specific meals, snacks and beverages to what’s consumed in the films?
That’s a great idea. By the time 2 or 3 things rolls around, I’ll probably be staring at my own coffee.
“A Married Woman” is one of his most straightforward films form that period, and notable because it doesn’t star Anna Karina. It was made right after their divorce.
They continued to work together right through to “Anticipation” his episode in the omnibus film “The World’s Oldest Profession.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SiumbpQhO0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA-OPM9B4aw&feature=related
Happy New Year!!! Off we go!! BREATHLESS!!!
It strikes me, this time, just how straightforward this film is, in a narrative sense. Meaning, relative to all his other films. Also, for the first time, I noticed how incredible the dubbing is. For such a “rough” film, it sure doesn’t show in this regard, as compared to other independent films that struggled with this around that time (like Shadows).
Wondering if anyone has the Blu ray of Breathless and can tell me if the new subtitle translation is noticeably better.
Here comes a little soldier…..
Le Petit Soldat feels almost like the result of Godard’s guilt for Breathless being non-political. I’hadn’t seen this film in a long time. Not among my favorites of his.
AWIAW: this might be the most charming performance by an actress that I have ever come across. I forgot how captivating Karina is in this. And for her to be this vibrant, imaginative and alive in her own right in a film by this kind of filmmaker is, i guess, both incredible and apt.
Great idea! I just watched band of outsiders for the first time. What an amazing film.
yes! one of my favorites. haven’t seen it in a while. looking forward to it.
Vivra Sa Vie in Blu ray. what a revelation! So beautiful! Every single shot!
Les Carabiniers, and i’m already in awe of the variations in style from film to film. i’ve known this with Godard, but it is really interesting seeing these back to back. From this film to Contempt is such a leap. Not sure if there’s been another filmmaker that has varied this much, film to film, yet is consistently singular to the point of having that unique and recognizable (in his case Godardian) stamp, no matter what film/style.
Damn. Snoozed all the way through Contempt. This is the one i’ve seen most recently, so I don’t feel so bad, but still pissed. Guess it was bound to happen.
In 1998 I had a show on Manhattan Cable. I devoted an entire episode to Band of outsiders. I had just discovered it and felt as though i was the only one who had! I wonder what the real effects of the internet are on cinephilia. How does knowing what others thing of films change your own appreciation?
I feel like we could be best friends Peter Rinaldi. You are a champ for doing this.
I am loving it, but the French is starting to grate on me. Very strange. A Married Woman next. Have only seen this once. Look forward to it.
Haha! “Contempt” can put the best of them to sleep. Believe me, it’s gotten me before. That music is a narcotic.
Good point about the dubbing in “Breathless”. I’ve always thought it was pretty seamless myself.
Can’t imagine anyone snoozing through “Contempt.” it’s hypnotic.
Anna Karina auditioned for “Breathless” but when she was told she would have to tkae her clothes off she turned it down (it would have been the part of the girl Belmondo steals money from at the beginning) Godard was hooked nonetheless and he called her back for "Le Petit Soldat’ assuring her she wouldn’t have to tkae her clothes off because “it’s a political film.”
Next in “A Woman is a Woman” he cast her as a stripper. But we don’t see her nude in that either.
It took Luchino Visconti — a gay man — to finally get Karina to disrobe in his film of Camus’ “The Stranger” (1968)
For years critics had accused Godard of being a prude by covering Karina up. But it was her decision, not his.
“Can’t imagine anyone snoozing through “Contempt.” it’s hypnotic.”
Didn’t you just kinda answer your own question? Heehee!
Just kidding. It’s still a masterpiece.
This may sound obvious to those familiar with Godard , but I noticed watching A Married Woman that we exercise different ‘viewing muscles’ with a Godard film than with a film somewhere on a more narrative scale. Even a purely cinematic filmmaker, no matter how much story is unimportant to him/her, is still usually working more or less with narrative. And as much as we the viewer might be consciously focusing less on the story and more on the cinematic aspects of such films, our brain is still, for better or worse, still conditioned to taking in the storytelling. This could either be a lulling or tiring thing when watching films back to back. But with Godard, because there is no narrative (yes, there are story aspects and fragments of narrative but never a through-line story in a storytelling sense) it actually is not as daunting to watch many films at once. It is more a collection of ideas that keep changing than a collection of tales that start and end.
I totally forgot Akim Tamiroff is in Alphaville!
Just got this email:
“I’m reading your posts on the film site and in your last one, I was reminded of something I still don’t understand. I don’t understand why anyone would want to watch a film that is not telling a story…. other than filmmakers – who can get something out of the methods, etc. I just don’t really get it. If it’s not a story, what is it?”
I think a lot of people feel this way. I have my own answer but i am curious to hear anyone’s thoughts on this if you care to share.
Enjoying the mood, the themes the film explores, the visceral effect the film has on you, the wonderful images it shows, the characters it crafts.
Does this person enjoy a comedy because of the story the comedy has, or because the comedy makes them laugh?
Peter Rinaldi
I don’t know about you, but I love to do nothing on New Year’s Day. Sometimes hung over, or just lazy, every year the most I endeavor to do is check out a T.V. show marathon, but never really do. This year I also don’t feel like doing anything on New Year’s Eve either. So I thought it would be cool to do my own marathon.
From 15 minutes past midnight on January 1st through the wee hours of the morning on January 2nd, I will be running (in my home), back to back, perhaps the greatest stretch of features by one filmmaker ever — Jean Luc Godard’s first 15 feature films, from “Breathless” to “Weekend” — on DVD (and 1 Blu-Ray) No stopping, no pausing, and with minimal breaks between films.
“That’s great Pete. Have a Blast! Why the hell are you posting about this?”
Well, I thought it might be interesting to share the schedule of films and maybe other Godard fans can join me for part (or all!) of the marathon. Being that it is likely we have all seen these films before, perhaps we can post thoughts on the current film that’s playing, in real time, on this thread (or even if you aren’t watching the film, you can post something about it in that time period). Kind of like a synchronized Godard-athon blog-athon. Wow, just writing this out seems pretty lame. What an extravagant waste of time!!!! Maybe I am just trying to celebrate my Godard collection while my girlfriend is away and can’t put a stop to it!! But seriously, I think Godard is one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century, so I expect this to be fun, inspirational and a good way to kick off the year. Even if you think this is dumb, don’t say anything so I think there actually are people watching these films when I am. K?
Here’s the Schedule: (they are NOT running immediately back to back. At the exact times below, I will be pressing play)
[1 January 2011][the list is in order of when they were filmed, not necessarily released]
Time (Eastern)
0:15 – Breathless
2:00 – La Petit Soldat
3:45 – A Woman is a Woman
5:30– Vivre Sa Vie
7:15 – Les Carabiniers
9:00 – Contempt
11:00 – Band of Outsiders
13:00 – A Married Woman
15:00 – Alphaville
17:00 – Pierrot Le Fou
19:00 – Masculine Feminin
21:00 – Made in the USA
22:45 – 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her
[2 January 2011]
Time (Eastern)
0:30 – La Chinoise
2:30 – Weekend
I own 12 of these and got the other 3 from the Library. I don’t expect to be watching intensely for 100% of this marathon. If I had never seen these films before, that would not be good. But my intention, for the most part, is to watch with full attention, so when I do post thoughts, they will be short. I also intend to invite a friend over for two separate features. Both to introduce them to Godard and to not go insane.
I welcome your thoughts and ideas.
If you are reading this on New Year’s Day – Jump in!
If I bail out on this at the last minute, have fun!!! Just kidding (I think)