Breathless (1960 film)

Breathless (French: À bout de souffle) is a 1960 French New Wave film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. It stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg and tells the story of Michel Poiccard (Belmondo), a young car thief who impulsively kills a police officer and goes on the run with his American girlfriend, Patricia Franchini (Seberg), in Paris.

The film is notable for its unconventional cinematic techniques, including jump cuts, handheld camera work, and improvisation by the actors. These techniques broke with traditional filmmaking conventions and helped to define the French New Wave movement.

Breathless is considered a landmark film in the history of cinema. Its innovative style and themes influenced countless filmmakers and continue to be studied and celebrated for its groundbreaking approach to storytelling and visual style. The film explores themes of alienation, love, and existentialism, often associated with post-war French philosophy.

The film's dialogue is largely improvised, adding to its sense of spontaneity and realism. Godard often gave the actors minimal direction, allowing them to develop their characters and scenes organically. The black and white cinematography, by Raoul Coutard, further enhances the film's gritty and realistic aesthetic.

Breathless was a commercial and critical success upon its release, solidifying Godard's reputation as a major force in world cinema and launching Belmondo and Seberg to international stardom.