A BOUT A SUFFLE

BREATHLESS (A BOUT DE SOUFFLE), 1960
France | 35mm, Black-White, 90’ | French, English
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
CAst: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Jen-Luc Godard

Paris after the World War II, we are in French territory that carries the signs of American Film Noir found very cool by the New Wave directors. Jean Paul Belmondo is cool because he wears dark glasses like Godard, smokes non-filter cigarettes and as a cheap gangster risks falling in love with American Jean Seberg who sells Herald Tribune in Paris. It is obvious that she will betray him. But Belmondo, who acts like Bogart takes the risk though he knows it is a losing bet. This is even cooler than the daring camera moves in streets or the famous jump-cuts.