We watched “A bout de soufflé” the landmark first feature film of Jean Luc Godard last night for the first time since the early 1960s. Celebrated for ushering in the “new wave” the script was written by Francois Truffaut and Godard had the collaboration of Claude Chabrol and Raoul Coutard but it is Godard’s direction which stamps the film as different.
But is it more than a series of mannered (black and white) scenes in which charming petty crook Michel, played with aplomb by Jean Paul Belmondo, and pretentious beautiful American student Patricia, portrayed by Jean Seberg act out their various interests?
Michel (sex and money) has modelled himself on Humphrey Bogart, with his hat and tweed jacket (“not with silk socks” one of his friends chides him). His easy charm is a front for an amoral thief who would cheat a taxi driver as well as gun down a moto cop. Patricia (excitement and ambition) wants to be a journalist and seems to have no connection with Michel other than succumbing to his charm and the excitement of being with a crook. She asks if he has read William Burroughs (as if) and seeks his views on existentialism. She has no long term attachment to his plan to flee to Italy and ultimately turns him in to the police who are searching the cop killer.
My overall impression was that despite its landmark status and fine performances from the protagonists (especially Belmondo) this is not a great film, but well worth an hour and half of French culture on a black night for French life. My viewing companion snored her approval.
Malcolm
Val says thanks to Joanne for a donation of DVD's for refugees, we thought we would test a few out before taking!
