Euphoria #8
New reader Shane Clifford suggested this piece of Cinema Euphoria starring Anna Karina and her cheeky little face. It’s a PIP, I think you’ll agree.
Jean-Luc Godard (who directed this, from VIVRE SA VIE) and Karina were great dancing partners in the 60s, and I have to add this second clip, from BANDE A PART to the first:
Tarantino showed this to Travolta and Thurman to relax them about the dancing in PULP FICTION: Travolta was nervous about dancing again, Uma was nervous about dancing with Travolta, and this sequence got across the idea that they didn’t have to dance brilliantly but they had to look like they were having a brilliant time.
I’ve been slowly getting over an irrational aversion to Godard and have started realising just how important and original he is. Things that used to annoy me in his work no longer do. I was very moved by his entry in the TEN MINUTES OLDER series, which is the most recent example of his work I’ve seen. Wonder what I’ll watch next?
January 4, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Hm. I tried getting into Godard some years ago, but found him a bit too boring. Though, that second clip made me want to watch Band à part.
From what I hear, Godard himself recently said that he really hates this film and wishes that he had never made it. Could just be old age talking.
January 4, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Some Godards are definitely a bit more difficult and tiring than others. It seems to be important to start in the right place (not necessarily the beginning).
I’ve always liked ALPHAVILLE, which is proper sci-fi and proper noir, as well as having the playful side one associates with JLG.
Godard can be pretty crotchety, I wouldn’t be altogether surprised to hear he hates ALL his films. I can’t draw any inference from his likes and dislikes — reading his reviews, I find I share his tastes a fair bit, but then these aren’t reflected in the films he makes, or not directly.
January 4, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Anna Karina, Sami Frey and Claude Brasseur doing The Madison in Bande a Part has never been equalled.
And yes Godard has turned into a crotchety old poop.
January 4, 2008 at 5:33 pm
It’s wonderful that he’s still AT IT though…along with Chabrol and Varda and Marker and Resnais. The British New Wave are just about all gone, with Lester retired. Only Boorman and dear old Mad Ken to keep the British End Up.
I exclude Ken Loach because he’s NO FUN.
I have an apocalyptic vision of the future where Richard Attenborough buries us all.
January 4, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Sigh! I hope this isn’t going to turn into a JLG knocking session!
Elver, Godard has been known to dismiss a number of his films subsequent to making them, this I consider a good thing as it enables him to progress (for better or worse).
January 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Nobody’s knocking him!
I expect he gets a lot of people saying “I love your films, especially the early funny ones,” so I don’t blame him if he’s cantankerous.
That Ten Minutes Older short was really something!