French New Wave Cinema, or “La Nouvelle Vague”, was a cinematic movement during the 1950s and 1960s.
It has given us many fascinating directors and a plethora of incredible films. So, what exactly is it, and which films should you watch?
| Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Adieu Philippine | 1962 | Jacques Rozier |
| Band of Outsiders | 1964 | Jean-Luc Godard |
| Breathless | 1960 | Jean-Luc Godard |
| Céline and Julie Go Boating | 1974 | Jacques Rivette |
| Contempt | 1963 | Jean-Luc Godard |
| Claire’s Knee | 1970 | Eric Rohmer |
| Cléo from 5 to 7 | 1962 | Agnès Varda |
| Elevator to the Gallows / Frantic / Lift to the Scaffold | 1958 | Louis Malle |
| Hiroshima mon amour | 1959 | Alain Resnais |
| Last Year at Marienbad | 1961 | Alain Resnais |
| Le Beau Serge | 1958 | Claude Chabrol |
| Lola | 1961 | Jacques Demy |
| Shoot the Piano Player | 1960 | François Truffaut |
| The 400 Blows | 1959 | François Truffaut |
| Vivre sa vie | 1962 | Jean-Luc Godard |
What Is French New Wave?
French New Wave was centred around the idea of auteur theory or auteurism. This is the idea that French New Wave directors were the primary creative input for a film. Each French New Wave film should be recognisable as a piece of work by a specific director regardless of the actors, setting, genre, etc.
The advent of handheld cameras allowed for more shooting in locations, often Paris, where the movement was centred.
Many films focus on everyday life and more down-to-earth ideas while also being existential and asking viewers many questions, sometimes directly. It wasn't uncommon for French New Wave films to break the fourth wall regularly.
The movement had a lasting effect on French cinematic history as well as cinema around the world.
So if this sounds like the kind of film you'd like to watch, which ones should you start with?
We've compiled a list of 15 of them, which we've put in alphabetical order. This isn't a ranking, but feel free to put them in your preferred order as you watch them!
Adieu Philippine (1962), directed by Jacques Rozier
Adieu Philippine is a 1962 French New Wave film directed by Jacques Rozier. It tells the story of a young man in Paris who works as a camera technician at a TV station.
The man, Michel, decides to go to Corsica as he's about to be shipped to Algeria in the army. At the same time, he starts dating two girls.
This film premiered at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival and was Jacques Rozier's first feature film.
It's essential viewing for anyone interested in the French New Wave movement.
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Band of Outsiders (1964), directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Band of Outsiders or Bande à part is a 1964 Jean-Luc Godard French New Wave film about a group who decide to steal a stash of money.
The film, based on Dolores Hitchens' novel Fools' Gold, was shot in just 25 days. It's incredibly highly rated on websites like Rotten Tomatoes. It is full of memorable scenes, often referenced or parodied in other films and TV series.
Quentin Tarantino's film production company, “A Band Apart” is named after the film.
Here's the trailer for the film.
Breathless (1960), directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Another Jean-Luc Godard film, Breathless or À bout de souffle, is a New Wave crime drama film starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, one of France's best actors.
Released in 1960, the film was one of the first of the French New Wave movement, along with The 400 Blows and Hiroshima mon amour.
The film is based on a real story Godard read in the newspaper. In the movie, a French man seeks refuge in the apartment of an American student and journalist after stealing a car and killing a policeman.
The film is seen as one of the most influential films of the French New Wave movement.
Enjoy the trailer.
Céline and Julie Go Boating (1974), directed by Jacques Rivette
Céline and Julie Go Boating or Céline et Julie vont en bateau: Phantom Ladies Over Paris is one of the later films of the French New Wave.
Jacques Rivette's 1974 film follows two young women, the titular Céline and Julie, and focuses on the theme of magic.
After all, Céline is a stage magician, but the film also blurs the lines between reality and magic, with magical and mysterious events starting to happen in the house that the protagonists live in.
Contempt (1963), directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Contempt or Le Mépris is a 1963 Jean-Luc Godard film based on the 1954 Italian novel Il disprezzo. It stars Brigitte Bardot, one of France's finest actresses.
It's often considered one of the greatest films of all time and not just one of the best French New Wave films.
The film explores love, desire, and cinema itself. The story covers the relationship between the screenwriter Paul and his beautiful wife Camille.
Enjoy the trailer for the restored version her.
Claire’s Knee (1970), directed by Eric Rohmer
Claire's Knee or Le Genou de Claire is a 1970 film by Eric Rohmer. It's the fifth in his series of Contes moraux (Six Moral Tales), which includes three other films and two short films that never had theatrical releases.
The film tells the story of Jérôme, a diplomat who meets up with an old friend while on holiday at Lake Annecy.
The story explores the complexities of human relationships, as Jérôme has to exhibit self-control and struggle against his desires.
Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), directed by Agnès Varda
Cléo from 5 to 7 is a 1962 French New Wave film by Agnès Varda, the key and only female director officially involved in the movement.
Not only was Agnès Varda a woman, but she was also Belgian, but that didn't stop her from being incredibly influential and essential in French New Wave cinema.
Cléo from 5 to 7 shows a woman's journey towards self-discovery and empowerment.
Like many of the great French New Wave films, the film has an incredibly high rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Here's the trailer.
Elevator to the Gallows / Frantic / Lift to the Scaffold (1958), directed by Louis Malle
This film, known as Ascenseur pour l'échafaud in French, is Louis Malle's 1958 crime thriller and is considered one of the films that helped establish French New Wave cinema.
The film takes place in Paris after a botched murder plot. It features incredibly stylish cinematography and a jazz score from Miles Davis, which makes it a great watch.
Watch the trailer here.
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Hiroshima mon amour (1959), directed by Alain Resnais
Hiroshima mon amour was one of the first examples of French New Wave cinema. This 1959 film, directed by Alain Resnais, was his first feature-length film.
In an early example of non-linear storytelling, which was innovative at the time and a hallmark of French New Wave cinema, Hiroshima mon amour uses flashbacks to tell the story of a 24-hour period between a French woman and a Japanese man.
Not only is the film critically acclaimed for its innovative film techniques, but Emmanuelle Riva's performance is also greatly lauded.
Last Year at Marienbad (1961), directed by Alain Resnais
Last Year at Marienbad is another film from Alain Resnais. It takes place in a European hotel as a man "X" tries to convince a woman "A" (as they're known in the film) of their meeting at the same place the previous year.
The film blends the boundaries between memory and fantasy, and this film is quite the journey for the viewer.
Last Year at Marienbad also has an engaging visual style that tries to replicate the silent era of cinema.
There are also interesting visual choices (that were later edited into the film) to add an element of surreality.
Here's the trailer for the 55th Anniversary Edition of this surrealist masterpiece.
Le Beau Serge (1958), directed by Claude Chabrol
Le Beau Serge is often considered the first French New Wave film ever. It was directed by Claude Chabrol and released in 1958.
Despite French New Wave cinema typically being centred around Paris, this was filmed in Sardent. Chabrol had lived in this town during the war and always considered himself to be from there.
Lola (1961), directed by Jacques Demy
While underappreciated internationally at the time, Jacques Demy's 1961 romantic drama would later become considered one of the classics of French New Wave cinema.
The plot follows the young French man Roland in Nantes, Lola, a cabaret dancer, love, romance, lust, and even diamond smuggling.
Watch the trailer.
Shoot the Piano Player (1960), directed by François Truffaut
François Truffaut's 1960 film Shoot the Piano Player or Tirez sur le pianiste stars Charles Aznavour as a pianist.
It's based on the American novel Down There by David Goodis.
After a pianist learns that his entire career is down to the fact that his wife slept with a talent agent, and his wife subsequently kills herself.
Things only get worse for the pianist when his brother steals from some gangsters, and the gangsters target his new love interest and his brother.
The 400 Blows (1959), directed by François Truffaut
Another François Truffaut film, The 400 Blows from 1959, is often considered one of the greatest and quintessential French New Wave films.
It won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA.
This coming-of-age drama covers the story of Antoine Doinel, a young boy struggling with life in Paris and his schooling.
Check out the trailer.
Vivre sa vie (1962), directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Last, we have Jean-Luc Godard's 1962 film about Nana, played by Anna Karina. Without spoiling too much of the film, Nana is trapped in a cycle of poverty and despair and has to turn to certain types of work to survive.
The film was incredibly well-reviewed by critics then, though not everyone loved it. It's highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes and often considered one of the best French films ever.
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