🎬 Nouvelle Vague (2025) – Richard Linklater’s Cinematic Love Letter to the French New Wave

 

🎥 Overview

• Director: Richard Linklater

• Genre: Biographical Drama, Historical Comedy

• Runtime: Approximately 110 minutes

• Language: English and French

• Premiere: 2025 Cannes Film Festival

• Production: Detour Filmproduction

• Distribution: To be announced(Time, Wikipedia)

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👥 Cast

• Guillaume Marbeck as Jean-Luc Godard

• Supporting Cast: Features a selection of lesser-known actors chosen for their resemblance to real-life figures of the French New Wave era(Time)

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🧩 Plot Summary

Nouvelle Vague is Richard Linklater’s affectionate tribute to Jean-Luc Godard’s 1959 film Breathless, capturing the youthful exuberance and innovative spirit that defined the French New Wave cinema. Premiering at Cannes, Linklater’s film reconstructs the story of how Godard hustled his way into making his groundbreaking debut. The film chronicles the guerrilla-style shooting in Paris, the casting of Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg, and the collaboration with key figures like François Truffaut and Raoul Coutard. Told with wit and historical reverence, the film introduces audiences to a cast of lesser-known actors carefully selected for their resemblance to the real-life icons. Enhanced with digital effects for period accuracy, the costumes and cinematography enrich the film visually, while the jazz-infused soundtrack echoes the energetic spirit of the era. Though it may appeal most to cinephiles, Linklater insists it’s a film for young dreamers, conveying the message, “I can do this too!” Nouvelle Vague is both a celebration of cinematic history and a rallying cry for artistic passion, inviting viewers to rediscover or newly appreciate the rebellious and poetic charm of Breathless. (Time)

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🎬 Direction & Style

Linklater employs a blend of documentary-style storytelling and dramatized reenactments, capturing the essence of 1950s Parisian cinema. The film's visual style is enhanced by period-accurate costumes and cinematography, while the jazz-infused soundtrack echoes the energetic spirit of the era.(Time)

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🏆 Reception

Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Nouvelle Vague received acclaim for its insightful portrayal of a pivotal moment in film history. Critics praised Linklater's ability to make the story accessible to both cinephiles and general audiences, highlighting the film's wit and historical reverence. (Time)

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🔚 Conclusion

Nouvelle Vague stands as a heartfelt homage to the French New Wave, offering a compelling look at the making of Breathless and the revolutionary spirit of 1950s cinema. Richard Linklater's film is both an educational journey for film enthusiasts and an inspiring tale for aspiring filmmakers, emphasizing the power of passion and innovation in the art of cinema.(Time)

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