Linklater's Netflix film "Nouvelle Vague" is a love letter to cinema, recreating the chaotic making of Godard's Breathless in 1959 Paris. French New Wave.
- November 25, 2025
AceShowbiz - Director Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague is celebrated as a "love letter to cinema" and a vibrant homage to the revolutionary French New Wave. This Netflix film recreates the making of Jean-Luc Godard's iconic Breathless, transporting viewers to 1959 Paris. Nouvelle Vague captures the passionate, rebellious spirit of Godard's pioneering debut, a film that irrevocably altered global cinema. Linklater embraced a "beginner's mind" for the project, challenging his own perceptions of period filmmaking for an authentic, immediate feel.
The film meticulously recreates the chaotic yet fertile environment surrounding Godard's Breathless. Starring Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, Guillaume Marbeck as a young Godard, and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Nouvelle Vague chronicles this pivotal moment. Godard's audacious approach involved a shoestring budget, no complete script, and a bare-bones crew, completed in a hurried 23 days. This guerrilla-style filmmaking, defying cinematic norms, is central to Nouvelle Vague's narrative, inspiring both its cast and crew.
In a discussion with Collider's Steve Weintraub, Linklater and Guillaume Marbeck explored how capturing Godard's raw methods reignited their passion. Linklater hopes Nouvelle Vague conveys the era's spontaneous energy. He reflected on his versatile career, stating, "Every film is this magical world. Every film is a whole new experience. It always feels like something I haven't done that I have to figure out." This project, his first in black and white, presented unique challenges, pushing artistic boundaries.
Marbeck, embodying the early, pre-iconic Jean-Luc Godard, infused the role with his own blend of insecurities and confidence. He spoke about the inspiring experience of filming Nouvelle Vague and inhabiting a groundbreaking artist. Recreating 1959 Paris and portraying the dynamic, rebellious filmmaker allowed Marbeck to understand the creative ferment that birthed the French New Wave. Discussions also touched upon the profound joy of experiencing Paris as it was, a backdrop for cinematic revolution.
Ultimately, Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague stands as a powerful testament to the courage of independent ideas and cinematic innovation. By literally "dropping a camera down in 1959," as Linklater put it, the film defies conventional period drama tropes. It offers an authentic glimpse into a pivotal moment, celebrating artists who dared to challenge the status quo and reminding viewers that profound cinematic magic often arises from embracing a beginner's mind and the freedom to create without limits.