Godard' Most Underrated Film: La Chinoise

[@ToastersChannel]

Rest in Peace, Jean-Luc.

[@Lilly-zt9bn]

The man on the train isn't arguing against the use of political violence in general; he's critical of the fact that this group of students has no political base or supporters, which makes their acts of individual terrorism unable to have meaningful political impact. It's a pretty classic debate among socialists throughout history, I'm sure Godard was keen to this.

[@jeffreyperrone2182]

I have seen La Chinoise many times. It is the opposite of confusing. It's perfectly clear, formally, structurally, and visually. It's also often very funny.

[@chini_boi]

this was my first Godard film. loved the weird symphony that drowned out the speaker and the filming in general. Thankyou for some context on this film, as it brings up a ton of questions

[@mrinalkantinath1271]

Glad to see a good analysis on La Chinoise. The video should have been longer tho.

[@hochelaga]

Interesting topic, really enjoyed this deep dive. Keep it up!

[@ToastersChannel]

Thank you kindly!!

[@burnsbooks69]

Thank you for this! I really liked this video and thought it told the movie and the ideas presented great I wish it had more views

[@ToastersChannel]

That is very nice of you! Thank you so much :)

[@JimFarm]

One error made in this video, is that the minister of culture that Veronique assassinates was not the French minster of culture but rather the visiting Sovier minister of culture, who in the film bears the name of Mikhail Sholokhov. By the 1960s, China and the Soviet Union had become bitter adversaries, so it was not implausible that Maoists in the West might attempt to assassinate a visiting Soviet offical. Godard's choice of name for the Soviet minister of culture was interesting because he bore the same name as the prominent Soviet novelist Mikhail Sholokhov. The real Mikhail Sholokhov was never minister of culture in the Soviet union, but he did serve as a kind of roving goodwill ambassador for the Soviet Union in the 1960s, so it was not implausible that the real Mikhail Sholokhov might speak at the opening of a new university campua in France, not unlike the fictional Mikhail Sholokhov in Godard's film.

[@dwgthed]

The Cosmonaut Magazine has an in-depth essay on La Chinoise by Doug Greene and Shalon van Tine.

[@thesillyhuron]

Excellent review of an underrated movie. I think it's a comedy directed by an amused intellectual. Godard plays with themes of rebellion and urban warfare, but you can't take these characters seriously. They couldn't hold up a candy store. All the zappy edits and self references are little jokes he threw in, either to insult or wake up the viewer. Considering how deadly serious his later Marxist films were, I wonder if he never could quite believe the middle class academics left wing's ideas in the first place

[@benmarciano]

You should have more subscribers ! You’re video is truely incredible !

[@ToastersChannel]

That is super kind of you!! I really appreciate it!

[@jesseleeward2359]

I would NEVER have gotten Clockwork Orange from this. I always got a strong Fellini influence, and like a film version of a brechtian stage play. Or of a wordy stage play in general with wide shots and durectly lecturing thd audience.

[@ToastersChannel]

Way later i thought I could’ve elaborated more on this because it also for one gives Wes Anderson vibes and indeed Fellini too. But yeah, if i could remake this video, it would’ve been more informative and longer lol

[@anitapg75]

ahhh, this made me want to watch the movie even though i don't believe i'll understand it... great video anyway !

[@ToastersChannel]

It's a great film! Definitely watch it!!

[@Idonotsa49]

I don’t understand the film, but I still love it anyway

[@出火吐暴威-s1r]

It's a prophetic vision at the French student uprising of 1968

[@maggiemakri9798]

I can see a bit of Wes Anderson in this film. I guess he got inspired by it. Great video👌

[@maggiemakri9798]

@Swapnil Azad Oh my god... indeed

[@goodtitle686]

I once read that Godarc was a fan of Ingmar Bergman. The whole film seems to be shot like Bergman shot his films, like long monologues while breaking the fourth wall and close ups of actors faces etc. Wes Anderson has also credited Bergman as an influence, ecpecially his film "silence" while writing the script for "Grand Budapest Hotel".

[@paulvasquez6342]

I feel like in The French Dispatch he made a very clear reference to The Chinoise in the second story with Chalamet

[@maggiemakri9798]

@@paulvasquez6342 indeed

[@jackgray18]

BIG TIME

[@owenluo6910]

Outstanding work!

[@shivanshpachauri2855]

i just saw this movie in akiyuki shinbo's monoagatari series

[@guner9824]

Godard creates KZbin videos before KZbin.

[@Donjuanharo]

Qué mi3rda, la más subestimada? :( Es de mis favoritas

[@vodkatonyq]

Even more underrated than La chinoise is Une femme mariée.

[@antoniofigueroagarcia8168]

¿De verdad es la más infravalorada? No lo sabía y además es mi favorita. Etc

[@cesareantinellipickinup]

Godard ont est pas beaucoup, mai la chinoise est tres charmant chef d' oeuvre.

[@benlayashi]

Nice!!! 😍

[@svodcat7524]

Underrated? Isnt it one of his most well known?

[@johnhagariii9771]

i thought this was his worst film nothing happened with no symbolism

[@JewsusMalone]

I agree, it wouldn’t be out of place with a Neil Breen movie or Antifa student film, but since it’s Godard, we attribute more meaning than we would otherwise. Ironically, the film come across as more anti Communist than anything else and shows the ugly, narcissistic nature of violence and revolution.

[@ricardocima]

Sorry but, this film didn't work. And it's not because of Godard's mannerisms, which worked very well in his previous 60's masterpices. Don't know, it's just a boring movie. It isn't funny like Une Femme est une femme, not sublime as Bande a Part, not cool as Pierrot Le Fou. Don't know, maybe I dont like Leaud.

[@ricardocima]

I like the colors and the camera, though.

[@jackr4507]

definitely it’s not his most accessible film but there’s a lot of top tier Godard going on in La Chinoise imo

[@sandramarianamunozcota9139]

La Chinoise is a great movie, give it another shot!

[@Max-cv3iu]

it's really good but i can imagine if you don't have any knowledge about marxism or maoism you might consider it boring. I loved it though, laughed lots of times and I was alone.

[@ricardocima]

@@Max-cv3iu Well I do have knowledge about marxism and maoism ( I read my Kolakowski) , and I know Godard's maoism was idiossincratic (and shameful , but anyways...), but the film doesn't work in my opinion. I am not zhdanovist, so it's not because the film is lefty that I wouldn't appreciate. I leave that to the ideologues.

[@JWBabaYaga]

Awful film.