Godard vs. Truffaut

In this supplement on Criterion's release of François Truffaut's DAY FOR NIGHT, film scholar Dudley Andrew talks about the major fight that Truffaut and former friend Jean-Luc Godard got into around the time of that film's release in 1973.
DAY FOR NIGHT is available now on Blu-ray and DVD from the Criterion Collection.

[@ivfalcon]

You can notice the ideas in Godard's films, but you definitely feel the love and the passion in Truffaut's movies. François Truffaut was such a nice guy by the way.

[@michellelekas211]

Julia Phillips said he was a terrible sexist asshole.

[@JohnDouille]

@@michellelekas211 One woman said that...

[@michellelekas211]

Yes. That is what the post read.

[@Anastasia1993116]

Was he though? He might have been sure but at the end of the day only people who knew him on a personal level know him as a person .

[@covidsucks2429]

@@JohnDouille kzbin.info/www/bejne/g52cqJ-pdt6khNE check this

[@juanaltredo2974]

godard's creative and film theory ideas were far more interesting and avantgarde than truffaut, but truffaut made the better films because he had the bigger heart and truly a passion for the medium. But godards ideas changed films more than any truffaut work

[@blackmore4]

@DaNes200581 Pity he was so fucking annoying.

[@juanaltredo2974]

@@anthhhess3477 ​ you're basically repeating what I said, except goddard's ideas were groundbreaking

[@MultiEvil85]

True, but after 1980 Godard was not the same. His downfall begun this year. After that he was bubbling idiot and stopped being a director! Nor his ideas were ground-breaking after the seventies.

[@laurencewhite4809]

100 years from now Godard and his films will still be referenced while Truffaut and his work will sink into complete irrelevance.

[@21lacla]

@@laurencewhite4809 because the marketing on godard is wiiiiild. And even then, that is just not true at all, truffaut's films are often referenced, often. Plus, is being referenced a crucial thing to be remembered? Some films are so great that are imposible to even be mentioned. But sure, the godard silly romances, great photography, color selection and repetitive anna karina/simp stories will forever be mentioned in future films.

[@nomad6218]

Day for Night is a masterpiece, a forgotten one but a film that is absolutely remarkable. The direction from Truffaut is perfect. Godard was a experimental filmmaker but one that isn’t loved by all. Truffaut is a lover of cinema and has high intelligence of what works and what doesn’t.

[@tomc8888]

There is one scene in "Day for Night", the "Cinema Is King" montage from the making of "Meet Pamela" set to Georges Delarue's score, that I always point to and say, "This is why I go to the movies."

[@AbrasiousProductions]

in other words, Godard was a pretentious loser exceeding jealous of Truffaut's gifts and never came to terms with his own artistic emptiness

[@VideoGameSlang]

I don't know if you've included this in the supplement, but after Truffaut died Godard wrote a very touching tribute to his former friend.

[@FungusMossGnosis]

+HaveACigar Yes. They certainly need something balance out this one-sided, gossipy "film scholar".

[@benedettino6628]

sorry man, may u know where can i find this tribute?? I looked for it everywhere..

[@squirtreynoldscinema]

@@benedettino6628 It's in Histoire(s) du cinéma.

[@richmotroni]

In my mind, Truffaut was the better filmmaker and definitely a better person. Truffaut was less pretentious and more generous with other filmmakers.

[@richmotroni]

Keyser Soze Forgot to take our riddlin, I see. Sir, you need to take a chill pill and calm down. First of all, I was merely stating an opinion not a proclamation or manifesto, but simply an opinion that is all. Second, I was simply stating that I prefer Mr. Truffaut films' over Goddard's, however I never once did I condemn Goddard as a filmmaker or as an artist. "Breathless" and "Contempt" are great films, masterpieces, but in their overall work, I feel that Truffaut outshines Goddard. That is all. Now, take a deep breathe and exhale.

[@brinham6]

Richard Motroni I agree with you, though I would add Weekend to the list. Godard was a bold experimental filmmaker, and many of the experiments were failures (it didn't help that he had an omnipresent political/ideological agenda). Truffaut was accessible and engrossing, which is why I infinitely prefer his work, and can see most of them over and over again.

[@ethidian3444]

I'm just getting into Truffaut, but I'd have to agree already. Godard is an amazingly talented filmmaker, very creative and out of the box, but not nearly as strong of a storyteller as Truffaut. And Truffaut can get across cerebral ideas, and truly examine human behavior and relationships better than just about anyone I've ever studied. Today, I think Paul Thomas Anderson is taking cinema to new heights where it has always been strongest (psychological depth via layered characters), but Truffaut seems like his passion projects are maybe more put-together and realized than even a master like Bergman.

[@folksurvival]

Well Goddard was a Commie so Truffaut was definitely a better person.

[@ethidian3444]

paul w ha

[@knurdyob]

I get the feeling that Godard was partly just jealous after seeing a film like Day for Night, and was trying to put the film down in his head as much as he could

[@mathieubyron2038]

These were both legendary filmmakers with very different ideas about making movies. Their love of cinema and the movies is apparent in this "Feud" because they're both so passionate in their arguments. I personally like Godard films more, but I can't deny how monumental Truffaut's works are

[@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747]

This feud reminds me of Lennon McCartney. They both loved their art, they're both had a competitive relationship that made some of their best work and both had a huge separation that saddly couldn't be reconciliated as on of them died prematurely.

[@estrabinsqui]

Godard: gimme money Truffaut: no Godard: ok ur movie bad lol

[@covidsucks2429]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g52cqJ-pdt6khNE

[@shoheiimamura4067]

Typical communist.

[@bresson1048]

If u wanna talk it over, fine

[@thevoid99]

i do like godard as a filmmaker but.... i'm a truffaut fan. he's made better films and is a much cooler guy.

[@thomaspriday9731]

thevoid99 Eh, imo Truffaut never made something as ambitious as Historie(s), something as polemic as Weekend, or even something as touching as King Lear. That's just my opinion. I also like Truffaut and realize everything is about taste.

[@thevoid99]

Thomas Priday truffaut may not have been as ambitious as godard but he was more consistent despite a few misfires.

[@jesseleeward2359]

My uncle said Truffault was the least 'edgy' of the group. I don't think so. I just think Truffaults films are more mature and planned out. Godard films are almost cantankerous and jumpy. Deliberately of course

[@MrJo5ey]

All due respect to both of them, give me J.P.Melville any day.

[@ErjonPNL]

MeMyNonsense preach it brotha

[@ksof1]

MeMyNonsense I love Le Doulos. My favorite of Melville's. Alain Resnais is my personal favorite french filmmaker.

[@FungusMossGnosis]

+Gleb Kuziin I was gonna say, _and leave me Resnais & Franju_! Godard and Truffaut made their share of movies I love, but they were far less consistent or interesting. Too much repetition.

[@username_username10]

Amen to that.

[@kieranl5249]

+Gleb Kuziin I think Last Year at Marrienbad transcends the French New Wave, it's sooo good.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

love them both. Contempt and Shoot the Piano Player are in my all time 13 favorite films.

[@stevenwilliambaylessparks3730]

Godard is Theory; Truffaut is Practice.

[@oni500]

you can hate the man, but not his works, Godard is a giant.

[@kubricklynch]

oni500 Couldn't agree more.

[@brinham6]

oni500 I know next to nothing about the man, and couldn't care less. I just happen to dislike most--though not all--of his films.

[@JohnDouille]

@@brinham6 His films are the most influencial in cinema's history..

[@squirtreynoldscinema]

@Obi-Wan Kenobi syke

[@fernandaesteves4693]

You can hate weekend , j do.!

[@JLaRoc7]

I'll never understand what Godard was thinking writing that letter.

[@shoheiimamura4067]

Jealousy is a B.

[@AbrasiousProductions]

bold of you to assume Godard thinks...

[@thecinematicmind]

I have a feeling Mark Kermode will really love this video!

[@stevecheevers7337]

The Cinematic Mind If you want one critic that rant about his hatred for Godard then Kermode is the guy. His rant on Film socialisme is a thing of beauty. Although I don't agree that the remake of Breathless with Richard Gere is better then Godard's film. He hates the pretentious of Godard and French Cinema, sure he was kicked out of Cannes was Kermode for starting a massive argument.

[@thecinematicmind]

That rant is just an essential Kermode review, besides his World's End review, anything Danny Dyer and recently Entourage.

[@peterlooles1137]

@@thecinematicmind where can I find this rant?

[@a.champagne6238]

Will Criterion ever release Vivement Dinanche? That is my favorite Truffaut behind Shoot the Piano Player.

[@Jake-kn3xg]

Wait a minute, why is Blowup not on the criterion website no more?

[@warmleatherette]

I'm not taking sides, I'm going to watch Claire but just her knees.

[@garychu1505]

Both genius have a common goal by illustrating their fine works via the talent of Mozart of Cinema Georges Delerue especially Truffaut.

[@brunocd]

Rohmer.

[@bmabs35]

Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well.

[@sameerahmed-gx8js]

forget truffaut and godard....Robert bresson is the greatest french filmmaker ever

[@willieluncheonette5843]

yes, he's great as are those two

[@spb7883]

Regardless of one’s opinion of their respective work, both filmmakers (1) made the leap from writing about films to *making* them, and (2) were interested in doing something new. The former takes courage, the latter takes vision. Both attributes have been in incredibly short supply in (at least) American cinema since the 1970s. There’s also an irony to this: namely that contemporary cinema strongly reflects the influences and individuality of both men yet is largely vapid as a result.

[@josephingrao5556]

Why is it always Godard and Truffaut? As much as I respect their work but they are not the only French New Wave directors out there. What about Rivette, Rohmer and Chabrol?! Give credit where credit is due!

[@akikolehmainen88]

It's always Godard and Truffaut precisely for the reason you said yourself : P

[@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747]

Well some of those filmakers had already make films way back in the 50's but without the impact that 400 Blows and Breathless. Just a matter of popularity and influence, I myself have been unable to watch Rivette and Rohemer's work.

[@covidsucks2429]

@@akikolehmainen88 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g52cqJ-pdt6khNE check this essay tribute

[@SB-vt4uw]

Rivette is the best of all of em, His film La Belle Noiseuse is great than any other film of godart and truffaut

[@aliyenyoka9487]

Let’s be real Chabrol is the best and continued to work and make really underrated cinema

[@devinbell4816]

Dudley Andrew looks like a male Elizabeth Warren

[@sclogse1]

Sidney Lumet and Arthur Penn and Kazan are more fascinating to me.

[@corbinmarkey466]

I've never been able to shake the feeling that Godard hates cinema lol

[@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747]

No he loves it, he just hates how it's been used.

[@covidsucks2429]

@@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g52cqJ-pdt6khNE check this godard tribute

[@cyfkilla]

Love the art, not the artist

[@mindsuck3042]

Despite my avi, i go with truffaut

[@Eu553ify]

it hurts my ears to hear the guy not even saying godard's name right. the last d is silent! as to this feud, it doesn't change at all how I feel about either one (they're genius), but it's very, very interesting.

[@samrubio346]

as for the pronunciation of godard's name, it's really not that serious my guy

[@lenathiermann2210]

@@samrubio346 of course it's not. But someone titled a scholar should do better. It's not that big of a deal to take 2 seconds out of your day to research how someones name is pronounced instead of butchering it.

[@johns123]

Rip Godard

[@ianucci]

Of Godards work I've only seen Breathless, didnt understand what the fuss was about, I thought it quite dull.

[@trevorwarren4160]

I've seen Breathless, Pierrot Le Fou and am in the middle of Alphaville right now. There are definitely moments of brilliance in Godard's work but you have to sort through an awful lot of pretension to get to it. The only film of Truffaut's I've seen is The 400 Blows and it was beautiful. I liked Pierrot Le Fou though. With Breathless I had the same reaction as you.

[@cefa99]

Trevor Warren why are you on youtube when you are watching a movie?

[@GiantSandles]

They have their moments but they're kind of dragged down by his constant need to remind the audience how clever (he thinks) he is

[@kmanet4118]

Truffaut was great filmmaker, but Godard is a genius. Simple as that. Even Raoul Courtard and Jean-Pierre Léaud said that Godard was the best filmmaker and the only genius of the New Wave.

[@sclogse1]

A bout de souffle was a Truffaut script.

[@yeswho646]

@@sclogse1 and he basically got rid of it lmao

[@jamals.8786]

@@sclogse1 he scraped most of that script and used that freewheeling shorthand style of filmmaking with Breathless that became his trademark.

[@valerijcasanov]

I felt like the summary of the letter sent by Godard is edulcorating much of the stuff he stated in there.

[@sclogse1]

Don't forget the short films made decades before both of these rascals came on the scene. Short films that were very avant garde and brilliant.

[@PinkFloydrulez]

hilarious

[@rashadbabayev2489]

Godard is the galaxy Truffaut is a planet

[@bresson1048]

Godard pretentious AF Truffaut is a real one

[@ardaergin2587]

Godard is pretentious and boring. Truffaut is sincere and interesting. Among Godard movies I only like "A Bout de Souffle" whose screenwriter is Truffaut. Yet I believe the images and the colours of Godard movies are far better than Truffaut's.

[@aklcraigc]

Godard is wildly overrated. His 'avant-garde' ideas on film making have not aged well, as for his politics, well, the less said the better.

[@MultiEvil85]

Correct!

[@DJ-wl5qo]

Wow interesting because I walked away from Vivre sa vie thinking it was a really magical and empathetic movie. Weird how life works sometimes, you know?