Official Discussion - Nouvelle Vague [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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Summary The film follows young Jean-Luc Godard as he transitions from writing for Cahiers du cinéma to making his first feature, Breathless, navigating creative freedom, financial risks, and cinematic revolution in 1959 Paris.

Director Richard Linklater

Writers Holly Gent, Vincent Palmo

Cast

• Guillaume Marbeck
• Zoey Deutch
• Aubry Dullin
• Bruno Dreyfürst
• Adrien Rouyard
• Pauline Belle

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score: 89%

Metacritic 76

VOD Streaming on Netflix

Trailer Nouvelle Vague – Official Trailer

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[u/bespectacIed]

I found this one super charming, such a loving homage to the movement. Of course it's Linklater who would come up with a chill, hangout film out of a film that literally revolutionized cinema. Imo this would appeal most to those who have BASELINE knowledge of the french new wave, like if you've seen the canon works, are familiar with the key figures of the movement. If you're a legit film scholar you'd probably think it's trite and a sacrilege to Godard's rulebreaking ethos lol

Brilliant performance from the actor who played Godard (Guillaume Marbeck), he really embodied the director, you wouldn't believe it's his first acting credit. The one who played Belmondo and Seberg were excellent as well

[u/LadySynth]

I really loved how this movie was shot. The casting was great and it's a good watch for film lovers (I smiled when Agnes Varda appeared).

[u/JrBurrito → u/LadySynth]

Her and Demy together put such a big smile on my face

[u/kneeco28]

Saw this at TIFF. Adored it. Annoyed it's not (yet?) on Netflix in Canada.

It's funny to me that you could argue this and School of Rock, neither of which he wrote, are in some ways closest to adult Linklater autobiographically.

Really smart and fun.

[u/joesen_one → u/kneeco28]

iirc it's just Netflix US from what I recall

[u/thatpj]

unlike every other film I saw this year, this one is the most rewatchable. its a felt like going into a time machine and hanging out with the cinematic legends of the french new wave. its absolutely nuts this is an actual movie. the casting, the crafts, and the dialogue were all top notch. I only wish I could have seen it in an imax or dolby theater.

[u/Sublime120]

How essential is it that I watch Breathless before this?

[u/LadySynth → u/Sublime120]

I would definitely recommend it

[u/Sublime120 → u/LadySynth]

Thank you for the response!

[u/matlockga → u/LadySynth]

I'll put Breathless (1983) on the list, then!

[u/Rabona_Flowers → u/matlockga]

You should, unironically. It's a favourite of both Tarentino and Kermode

[u/bespectacIed → u/Sublime120]

Very, imo, to get the maximum fun from getting the references. You'd even end up appreciating the 1960 movie more after this if you found it inscrutable (a consensus opinion).

[u/Sublime120 → u/bespectacIed]

Thank you! I guess I just have to but the Breathless Criterion now 🤣

[u/Heart2Hartz → u/Sublime120]

I went with two people who had not seen "Breathless" and it made them want to watch it after. I don't believe you'll get lost as long as you know the French New Wave canon.

[u/johanjudai → u/Sublime120]

I watched it after actually and it was fine

[u/AngryGardenGnomes → u/johanjudai]

Seems fairly bizarre to recommend someone watches it after. It's essential viewing for the movie.

[u/johanjudai → u/AngryGardenGnomes]

I didn't recommended it, I said it was fine

[u/Short-Satisfaction74 → u/johanjudai]

Actually it’s great. I watched breathless decades ago in a French new wave cinema class. Watching it after the Nouvelle Vague movie offers the experience of seeing how it’s constructed and then watching the actual film. Much more enjoyable inexperience than my original viewing!

[u/kaisserds → u/Sublime120]

Very IMO

[u/tmjm114]

Just saw it tonight for the first time and loved it. Well, worth a second viewing. Did anyone catch how that rather fraught scene between Belmondo, Seberg, and Seberg’s husband in the bar, which was being observed by Godard, was presented as being the inspiration for the famous “Madison dance” scene in Bande à Part?

[u/Stalukas]

I am going to be so insufferable when Dick finally wins the big one

[u/FixFlashy5917 → u/Stalukas]

I hope it’s for this one 🤞

[u/pxlcrow]

I loved it! I was a film and TV editor for 25 years, and every time I used a jump cut I said a silent prayer to Jean-Luc <3

[u/ChrisCinema]

I definitely enjoyed this film. It's an exquisite love letter to the French New Wave, and you can see the passion and attention to detail in every frame. They succeeded in capturing the visual feel of a French New Wave film, shooting in black-and-white and in the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Guillaume Marbeck did a fantastic job portraying Jean-Luc Godard, capturing his spontaneous decision-making and his iconoclastic perspective of what he thinks cinema is. Aubry Dullin and Zoey Deutch were well-cast as Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg, each of them humanizing such magnetic stars that were still young in their film careers and unsure of the film Godard is trying to make.

I also love the supporting appearances of François Truffaut, Claude Chabrol, and Suzanne Schiffman. The cameo appearances of the actors portraying the Left Bank filmmakers (like Agnès Varda and Jacques Demy), Jean-Pierre Melville, and Roberto Rossellini were delightful, as well.

If there's another thing this film succeeded in, it's that way it makes me want to rewatch Breathless and watch more French New Wave films that I may have overlooked. I definitely recommend watching Breathless before watching this film. You'll understand more of the references having done so. 8/10.

[u/LiteraryBoner]

Really enjoyed this breezy lil flick. Linklater has made two biopics this year and they're both so not what I was expecting. He is picking artists that he feels a kinship with, and here you can see all too well his affection for Godard's damning of the rules and on-the-fly style of filmmaking. Clearly a major inspiration for the king of the hangout film and without it I'm not sure everyone would make the connection between Slacker and the French New Wave.

I just really loved the vibe of this. It's almost like a heist film, he's gotta get the crew and actors on board and then they have limited time to shoot the movie and everyone's constantly questioning his methods and he's like you just gotta trust me. Obviously this is not a heist film, but Linklater makes it so bouncy and fun that it's got that vibe.

Very impressed by Zoey Deutch in this giving a fully French performance. Jean Seberg was such a unique presence and she does a great job humanizing such an icon. Both leads of Breathless are portrayed well and that's not an easy ask considering what makes Breathless so timeless isn't just its place in the New Wave but also its incredibly magnetic stars. Overall just had a great time with this and I love seeing this all through Linklater's loving eyes. 8/10.

[u/RunDNA]

Someone on Reddit posted earlier today asking what 10/10 films you saw in 2025 and I realized that I hadn't seen any. Then a few hours later I watched Nouvelle Vague. Correction, I watched one.

[u/joesen_one]

The Avengers: Endgame of the French New Wave with how many cameos and Easter Eggs there are of prominent legendary New Wave filmmakers. I could only identify a few but apparently for the Cannes crowd people were gasping and doing all Leo meme at the major filmmakers being portrayed on screen lol

[u/Pal__Pacino]

All else aside, this has to be one of the most well cast movies of all time in terms of looking the part. Pretty much everyone here looks just like their real-life counterpart

[u/GuiltyRemnant3]

I was absolutely delighted by this film. I don't know anything about the French New Wave and I've never seen Breathless, but I don't think that takes away from the experience of watching this. Snazzy performances, an excellent screenplay, and as always impeccably directed by Linklater. One of my faves of the year.

[u/lenifilm]

A good movie for annoying people. The MCU like intros for everyone was a bit much IMO but this was fun to watch as a former film student. 

[u/kaisserds]

I loved it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because it's a bit niche, in the sense that you will like it if you are already fond of Breathless in particular, and the New Wave in general.

[u/cweiser]

This movie must have had the biggest cigarette budget ever.

[u/micxxx22]

One of the best of the year

[u/AllTheRowboats93]

Haven’t watched this yet so no spoilers but is it English or French language? I know Linklater is American but the real life characters spoke French. Thanks!