French New Wave Notes

After the second World War, films continued to be made in the same way as before, with editors having to conform to the established rules. In France, a group of critics wanted to challenge the rules, and proceeded to create their own films. The result of this movement was very influential to directors like Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese etc. These film makers helped to change the perception of what film making was. It's important to note that the techniques they used weren't new at all, but Hollywood had never been exposed to it and so for American's, it was new. Bonnie and Clyde paved the way for the American New Wave, and in particular influenced Easy Rider.

Breathless


- The eye-lines don't match up in the shot reverse shot
- Jump cuts ahead in car
- Breaks the fourth wall
- Camera points at sun
- Breaks 180 degree rule
- Cuts to close ups in weird places

A Woman is a Woman

- Cuts straight outside with no context
- Intercut with shots of the television
- Breaks the fourth wall
- Is concerned with life rather than a grand story
- Music stops and starts for conversation
- Is very self aware that it is a film
- Red white and blue clothes in wardrobe, symbolizes French flag

My Life to Live

- Starts with close ups, personal connection with the audience
- Back to camera, no facial recognition
- Man is out of frame
- Same technique is repeated but behind the man

Contempt


- Can't see the actors faces, they are cuddled and being very personal and intimate with each other
- Actors are self obsessed, always talking about beauty and themselves
- Colour grading goes from red, to white, to blue, represents the French flag

Band of Outsiders

- Natural sound, not edited
- No cuts, natural conversation
- Sound cuts out completely
- Talks about films in a film
- Music cuts out during dance
- Natural dance, not perfect
- Whole thing is one shot

Alphaville

- Shots are random and sliced together to create a narrative
- Sticking a camera in a revolving door
- Long continuous takes, natural lighting
- Actions goes out of camera, doesn't cut

The 400 Blows

- Boys coat changes, didn't care about continuity
- Camera inside spinning ride, innovative technique and produced beautiful results
- Captured real reactions, not staged
- Capturing the real reactions of the kids watching the show

Jules and Jim


- Handheld camera is very shaky and you can't see very much
- Conversation is all one shot to save film
- People are reversed in shot reverse shot, didn't care about continuity and made mistakes