How The French New Wave Changed Filmmaking Forever

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Out of all of the film movements I’d say one of the most influential of them was the French New Wave. In this video I’ll outline four things from this film movement that are still present in how movies are made and thought about today, which were responsible for altering the course of filmmaking forever.
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0:00 Introduction
1:31 Auteur Theory
4:22 Sonata
5:38 Low Budget
7:37 Visual Style
9:16 Experimentation
11:23 Conclusion
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[@impersonalbrand2513]

what's interesting (and by "interesting" i mean sad and depressing) is that big mainstream movies seem to be returning to the traditional pre-new wave model of being very studio- and producer-driven. the MCU being the prime example. directors are basically traffic cops there to keep the machine rolling.

[@Jorge_Ambruster]

The biggest criticism the French New Wave of directors had was not that the directors lacked creativity, but that they were so immersed in the system that they didn't take risks in fear of being thrown out. And, at the same time, the system itself didn't take risks and preferred adapting previous works of literature or plays rather than doing original stories. You are right about present day cinema in that regard. It's the same thing. I think Taika Waititi is an artist that when out of the system works best than when trying to be in it. I think Sam Raimi worked better when he did his own work than when working for a franchise. I don't think Denis Villeneuve's best films are the most recent ones (even with all the love he puts in them), but his older original ones. But they keep doing franchise work because once they are in the system, it's hard to say to yourself "okay, I've made it but I'm gonna leave it to struggle again to get funding for a small indie project". On the other hand, studios are literally doing what the French were doing in the 50s, adapting anything and everything into the screen in both movie and TV shows. There are not many original stories being told because, to their opinion, audiences are never going to respond well to a new concept and adapting previous work with clear success behind is better. And yet, from time to time, things like John Wick, Get Out or A Quiet Place are allowed to happen and audiences respond really well. And I think they are forgetting one big thing. Franchises cost a lot of money both because VFX are becoming more and more expensive with the high demand and the low amount of studios capable of delivering them, but also because the original material, the IP, has to be bought. Rights cost a lot of money if the IP is a best seller or really popular. That's an added cost that original movies don't have, which allows them to be less expensive, making it easier to get a profit out of them even if the box office numbers aren't extremely high. One of this days, Marvel (the main studio responsible for this) is gonna make a mistake. Either because they force the mainstream audience to watch so many TV shows and movies to go watch the newest one or because they go with a character people aren't interested in. But it's going to happen. And that day, when they lose a lot of money, maybe the system begins to shift. I hope.

[@maxsavage8574]

@@Jorge_Ambruster very well spoken, Jorge I like your perspective here, especially because I am entering the film Industry and upset about all the rehashes of older movies and books. I want to see how I can push my own ideas into film and change this. There's Bound to be mistakes and thats where the fun happens

[@TinLeadHammer]

Who cares about MCU. I haven't watched a single movie that belongs to MCU.

[@CHEESEPIKE12]

Taika's spin on the Thor franchise is a counter argument to this point. Taika has put a brilliant touch to the MCU's filmography

[@mananagnihotri]

I believe this means soon we’ll have a new film movement as well

[@seschaitanya5676]

So glad that you used Agnes Varda as the face of this video, I am so exhausted listening to people talk about Godard. Varda doesn't get enough praise for her steller work.

[@tatehildyard5332]

My partner actually went to college by where she lived. He would see her riding around on her bike while walking to classes.

[@seschaitanya5676]

@@tatehildyard5332 OMG! that's soo new wave vibe! She is 🔥🔥. I wish I had that opportunity!

[@Gos1234567]

You know when someone is always on about Godard that they don’t really know New Wave,like the Sex Pistols and punk

[@whitecocksmatter]

it is super cringe to say such a dumb thing, since she wasnt even a part of the new wave.

[@prayforpeace2204]

I guess I would have fit right in with French directors of the 50's and 60's. Everything I love about directing comes directly from French New Wave (albeit without knowing so until now). Thank you for this video. It gives me more confidence to keep pursuing my vision. Sometimes on film projects, I kept hearing little voices that would say "This should be lit better. There should be a bigger crew. The blocking should be more precise." And yet the time I tried the "studio approach", I made my worst film ever. And you know what? I think the same goes for writing. I've spent 10 years studying screenplays and the formulaic approach taught these days is so hard to swallow for me.

[@brunoarnabar7450]

are you working in projects in america, I feel the same way and want to make films in Austin

[@RSpudieD]

Well said! We studied French New Wave in my film classes and it's an era that really got my interest. It really seemed like an almost pre-modern video style where rules were played with and everything was almost as close to a "run and gun" shoot as you could get. That's a lot like how I made films and how I'd like to in the future. It's amazing what they were able to do and how creative they were. Also, something about Breathless's jump cuts stood out to me. Not only because they were so abrupt and obvious but also that it was different yet didn't detract from the film! It's really something and like you said, very much like modern youtubers! I didn't really know what to think but I remember writing "JUMPCUTS!!" in my notes and kind of smiling at how I had never seen a film do that before!

[@oniriscope]

“La nouvelle vague” search for freedom is definitely an inspiring movement. And its philosophy makes even more sense now. Thank you for this masterclass. Longue vie au cinéma français!

[@truefilm6991]

I think it's a choice. The French New Wave is very important and I love it, but it's not the only form of great filmmaking. I also like carefully composed shots and smooth editing. It's a choice. Whatever fits best for a project.

[@danemon8423]

of course it's not the only form. But today if u watch any movie, they always use traits of the french new wave

[@brownliketheearth]

This is such an necessary understanding for what one of the potential for art is, the ability to break norms within a stagnate medium. I hope anyone that sees this takes the initiative to create an environment that doesn't dictate how we break that stagnation but simply that we encourage the action of breaking it; it isn't the quality we should be concerned with but the action and intention in doing so. Get out there and make a film!!

[@TinLeadHammer]

They broke norms not for for the sake of art but out of necessity, just like the Morris Mini was designed out of necessity to make the smallest car for four people.

[@96CAMJ]

@@TinLeadHammer That's why the jumpcuts appeared on The Breathless. Godard needed to reduce the duration of the movie.

[@movielover828]

I totally agree with the French New Wave because many well-known directors (i.e. Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Noah Baumbach, William Friedkin, Wes Anderson, etc.) are being influenced by the impact of the movement, as well as the films made by Truffaut, Godard, etc. It is the most important film movement that influenced people who wanted to be a filmmaker.

[@Bella-Hunter]

Amazing video! Thanks for using Agnes Varda, so many people overlook her work and influence on cinema :)

[@Alexmary]

Not sure why but I felt emotional towards the end of this. I have felt placed into a box while studying film in college. The French new wave has unknowingly been my inspiration this whole. That is why I want to merge film and KZbin. This was beautiful thank you!

[@user-lp7fc4iq3u]

check out the 'youtube new wave' movement! it's very much inspired by this and seems like what you're getting at. they also could use a good sprinkling of Black fem creators

[@sinkbug]

I find this video so meta because I feel that videos like this on KZbin, analysis of cinema as a whole or a specific film, may start a new wave today. I firmly believe that in like 20 30 years were gunna have some amazing movies.

[@clumsydad7158]

that's true, and even in the past year so many older movies are now available on youtube and other online sources, really reinvigorating films and concepts that felt like they were lost, once again becoming new and vital again

[@medardbitangimana4580]

I was waiting for the moment where u talk about Breathless and the jump cut because I knew u had to 😄

[@RSpudieD]

It's a must for sure! It's Breathless' most recognizable feature!

[@djsuckertash]

So fantastic to see. Thank you for this. It's amazing to look around and see the constant resonance of their groundbreaking work.

[@iKINDREAD]

Waves created by ambitious youth. Notice how studios are saying the film industry is dead. I feel a new wave coming on. Let's bring it.

[@greenaum]

Jump cuts make sense for KZbin since videos here are usually short, which is also a technical limitation. It comes partly from the Internet having a million other things you could be doing right now, so you don't settle down to concentrate, and often you're at a desk, which are preceding limitations. Some KZbin jump cuts are visible and deliberate, others the person will try to hide, but not quite get perfectly. Which is from the limitations of time and amateur-grade editing facilities. Although in the case of KZbin nobody's written a manifesto for it, it just evolved.

[@sortat246]

The Nouvelle Vague was probably the best thing that happened to my generation (b. 1943) when the1960s took off, changing everything. It brought my generation of young impressionable Brits away from the Hollywood love affair that our parents had had, and gave us a new European identity

[@sunlightpictures8367]

Great video. The French New Wave has been and still is a huge influence on me as an indie filmmaker.

[@dgillphotos]

Love this! I have seen many student films and shorts (on sets) over-rely on a locked down camera aesthetic which blows budgets, slows production and relies on crew over acting. I love the idea of story over production. But - don't tell anyone else. These are nice things to keep in one's pocket.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I have heard the term French New Wave many times but never really knew what it meant. Thanks for the great explanation & examples.

[@vivianvaldi7871]

Now I understand everything : La nouvelle vague = Sonata = Revue 133 = Inglorious Basterds = yellow star Hope you do too.

[@akshaysaiju4615]

I have an exam tomorrow on the subject Fiction and Film and this video was sent from above.

[@96CAMJ]

They didn't reject "mainstream cinema". That take is so wrong. Indeed, they loved mainstream. It's not by chance that they celebrated Alfred Hitchcock (read or watch the "Hitchcock/Truffaut interviews"), Howard Hawks (read the clever review written by Jacques Rivette, "The Genius of Howard Hawks"), Fritz Lang, Jean Renoir etc.. You can also include Andre Bazin (considered the mentor of the French New Wave and the only "true movie critic", as Godard says) who wrote about Orson Welles. Godard had a quote that says: “The dream of the French New Wave, which it will never realize, is to shoot Spartacus, in Hollywood, with ten million dollars. (…) We have always believed that the New Wave was the cheap film against the expensive film. Not at all” (1962, Cahiers du Cinéma, N.º 138). And there is one more quote from Godard that hints for what moved them: "French New wave is also defined by regret, nostalgia for the cinema that no longer exists" (1962). How can they "reject mainstream cinema" when their younger years were made seeing whatever came up on the Cinémathèque française. Cinema basically saved Truffaut's tortuous teenage years so he have a deep appreeciation for cinema and it's powers that's why he face his mission with optimism and respect the viewer, unlike his partner Godard. They didn't hated "mainstream cinema". They hated what for them was considered "bad cinema" (read the infamous "A Certain Tendency of French Cinema" by François Truffaut, from 1954). And bad cinema was coming most from their country (exceptions made to Robert Bresson, Jacques Becker, Jean Cocteau, Max Ophüls, Abel Gance, Jacques Tati, Roger Leenhardt) than from Hollywood. There probably isn't a generation of filmmakers with as many anglophile references as the Nouvelle Vague. This kind of essays that always brings the sames ideas only keep spreading commonplaces and people always love to dwell on the surface of "style", "jumpcuts" (that hasn't any mistery. It was only his way to down the duration of the movie to standard duration). Nobody in the French New Wave theorized the "autheur teory" like we are used to see for other art movements. Nouvelle Vague hasn't even a "manifesto", that's why some critics refuse to call them a movement. What we have is a "Autheur politic's" theorized through movie reviews after movie reviews. There is one review although that there is more methodical and highlight the famous phrase: "There are no works, there are only authors." It is review written by Truffaut about the first movie in color by Jacques Becker. Instead of backbite the superproduction of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" (1954), Truffaut says that there are no longer any smaller films and that when you look at a film, you must see the entire corpus and the director who creates it.

[@harryfoulger418]

Great video, I would do another one on German Expressionism.

[@WilliamWei007]

i love this channel

[@willieluncheonette5843]

Three of these French New Wave films are in my 13 all time favorite films----Shoot the Piano Player, Lola and Contempt.

[@anxiousplayer1732]

Can you do a 3 budget level video about Jean Luc Goddard pls, that will be amazing. 🙂

[@64ccd]

This was especially interesting. Thank you for a great video!

[@terranborn56]

If you haven't done so already, would love to see a episode on Robert Bresson, considered one of the fathers of French New Wave. Thanks for posting this.

[@TChristopher]

Yes, I’m a huge fan of Bresson. And I think that if this episode is the beginning of looking into unconventional cinema, or rather the Cinema that made Cinema, you need to explore Bresson. So much of his work would go onto inspire the movements discussed in this episode.

[@quentinmackenzie4650]

Although Bresson did make revolutionary films in the 60s (I'm recalling, for example, Au Hasard Balthazar, a monumental film that broke even more new ground with its simplicity and minimalism), he's not considered part of the French New Wave. The most famous ones of this group are typically thought to be Godard, Truffaut, Jacques Demy, Varda, Éric Rohmer, Jacques Rivette, Chris Marker, Alain Resnais, and Claude Chabrol.

[@terranborn56]

@@quentinmackenzie4650 Never said he was part of it. His films were a precursor and inspired many of the new wave directors, hence, one of the "Fathers" of the new wave. One example, using non professional actors. Another? Shooting with an extremely low budget out side any studio support. Godard pretty much copied him in style with several of his early movies.

[@quentinmackenzie4650]

@@terranborn56 I figured you considered him a part of the French New Wave, just like Cassavetes is considered the father of American independent cinema--and he was indeed part of it. But if it wasn't what you meant, then ok.

[@terranborn56]

@@quentinmackenzie4650 I probably should have used precursor/father.

[@chitown1782]

Every KZbin creator owes everything to Breathless!

[@Kraisedion]

Definitely, though note that while Breathless was the film that popularised jump cuts JLG took the technique from Jean Rouch's "I, a Negro" from 1958.

[@bgaesop]

This convinced me to watch Jules et Jim

[@Alexlinnk]

That was one of the best videos on the subject I have seen, have to be have been suscribed :3

[@anya-yyd6321]

I love this vid,which clearly explains new wave so well 😊😊

[@cinemamonamour7830]

That was so interesting and Insightful.Thank you so much.

[@fingerling613]

I've a question: So before the French New Wave, in big studios, who did the creative parts? Who came with the idea of how a movie should be directed? Who worked out the camera angles, etc ? Somebody please shed some light on this topic. Thank you!

[@buddhaeaterodsouls]

Phenomenal video, thank you and continue creating please!

[@petergivenbless900]

Question: could Stanley Kubrick's early film 'Killer's Kiss' be considered a precursor to Nouvelle Vague?

[@quentinmackenzie4650]

In terms of style, I guess so. But Killer's Kiss didn't influence the French New Wave filmmakers as Italian Neorrealism did, so I wouldn't use that term.

[@96CAMJ]

@@quentinmackenzie4650 And some Cahier's critics hated the movies directed by Stanley Kubrick and Billy Wilder.

[@jessetimmmiller1870]

Great video, as always!

[@suhaib2789]

please cover other movements in cinema

[@thisisntgood]

Thanks for this!

[@jespersichlau4343]

I would love to see you go through the Dogme95 movement like in this video.

[@bravuras_with_parth]

Awesome content! 🎉

[@siwar-vw2cr]

All the support

[@MikeFeudale]

You should do a video on German expressionism since you’ve covered the French new wave

[@clumsydad7158]

yes, another area i'm largely ignorant about, good one

[@TRASHXDD]

we really to go back to the french wave

[@satish8889]

Great information thank you

[@renatomalbar2]

great video!

[@filmnobelpreis]

Interetingly, the Cahiers rejected mainstream cinema, but mainstream French cinema, whereas films by Ford, Hawks and Hitchcock would be celebrated, maybe the biggest names in the studio era. Besides, the name of the director was always a major selling point and usually named either after the studio logo or after the stars of the film, so this in no way indicates "auteur" theory still being alive today.

[@r.c.reidfilms]

thank you. i learned a lot

[@ayylmao7289]

very good video!

[@makerbrothersworldwide]

Don't forget Robert Bresson !

[@clumsydad7158]

although i'm not 'per se' a fan of the french new wave, it's extremely important to understand how novel the techniques were and how those auteurs helped evolve cinema. much like in the history of painting or any art form, new ways of seeing and representation were created. rules broken to be renewed and reevaluated at a later time.

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

"French New Wave". An important step forward no doubt. However, talk about an indelible style needed to qualify as an auteur? IMHO, towering above it all was an Italian named Fellini. Not a critic. No Pretense. Not from any "school". Just a guy with a poetic and fantastical style that still burns in our imagination more than anyone of that period. A Fellini video next? 🤔

[@roadcrewfilms]

Loved it!!!!!!

[@jaeyu1129]

I really wished they inserted all the titles of the film clips in the video.

[@thenewongoam2486]

I love French New Wave.

[@kritmee]

La Jetee is one of my favorite short films

[@GregHuffman1987]

RIP Godard

[@shadowplayfilms7963]

The 400 Blows is as good as it gets.

[@gabrielcarvalho4955]

Di you even read Truffaut's article? Or anything written by Godard in the 50's? There are so many inaccuracies in this video.

[@96CAMJ]

Ahah I made a comment about that. This is what happens when people only look for "style" and commonplaces without verifying them.

[@KAROLOMONARE]

WHO IS THE FILMMAKER MENTIONED ON 4:05?? I WANT TO CHECK THEM OUT.

[@muggerrock2969]

Rest in peace, Godard

[@tolujoseph709]

beautiful

[@JGphotoyt]

Who are the two guys at 3:53? I'm new to the space (come from photography) and interested to know!

[@witnessmangula7310]

It was so amazing I like it

[@mikejones9156]

The French might've changed filmmaking forever with their groundbreaking cinema tricks, but it took the conventionality of New Hollywood to actually build coherent narratives with them.

[@chrystianaw8256]

Nah

[@denvorsden7903]

I was breathless after watching Truffaut and Godard. I went on to watch other movies much later.

[@sahilhossian8212]

Lore of How The French New Wave Changed Filmmaking Forever Momentum 100

[@joegideon8461]

C'est super cool

[@Suba932]

Pour une fois qu'on parle de la France 🇫🇷

[@mintyninja2700]

Does sonata charge? To download royalty free music? O.o

[@stillbuyvhs]

Great defeat into the ad. :)

[@stillbuyvhs]

Segway, not defeat.

[@jaeyu1129]

who's the blonde in the car and what film is it?

[@jaeyu1129]

Found it: Corinne Marchand from Cléo from 5 to 7 by Agnes Varda.

[@dorothea535]

❤

[@Jakepf]

Yeah but I don't think that the French new wave inspired the jump cut in modern media content creation. I think it has more to do with needing to create short content. This is changing now to more long form but it used to be like that.

[@enricobarbarojr2770]

Can someone tell me please which film is the one of minute 4:31 ?

[@enricobarbarojr2770]

@CIAO CIAO thank you very very much

[@leoncoetzer]

Try talking your voice over, you do not need that terrible SABC infliction, please drop it and use the underscore to lift your narrative

[@nicoli8437]

Interesting that cinema history comes from Europe, but today they have no domination like Hollywood

[@Kraisedion]

In terms of Financial numbers that was always the case (changing a bit now with China, but they don't have the same cultural dominance elsewhere). While the early French New Wave films had a degree of financial success in France and even abroad, they had no kind of similar dominance to the Hollywood system of the time. If you are talking in terms of auteurs/key directors working today, this can still be found outside of the US. The most prominent country outside of the US at the moment is arguably once again South Korea so not Europe, but there are key directors working within Europe and even important film movements occurring right now in Europe. The two most prominent has to be the Romanian New Wave (Mungiu, Jude, Puiu, Porumboiu, etc.) and the Berlin School (Petzold, Schanelec, Grisebach, Ade, Arslan, etc.), both of which have sustained themselves for about 20+ years now, which is quite different from older new waves. In terms of waves emerging, keep an eye of Galicia and the murmurs of New Galician Cinema/a Galician New Wave, though this commentary is mainly limited to Spain at present (Key films: Fire Will Come, Endless Night).

[@MrKinamyun]

프랑스가 만든거 치고 제대로 된 걸 본 적이 없다.

[@TinLeadHammer]

Setting the same shots from one movie to another is not being an auteur or having a personal style, it is running out of ideas. I do not expect the same style from a particular director, in fact if I notice the same patterns I chuck them up as a has-been. French New Wave is not so much a style but a logical response to constraints of funding and location. It is a quasi-documentary style with a fictional narrative.

[@dimejiogunranti9001]

This is a crazy second perspective that I appreciate.

[@MovieExplainedinFrench]

nc

[@w.iraheta3769]

So no mention of the other primary essential film directors of the French New Wave like Claude Chabrol, Eric Rohmer or the often neglected Jacques Rivette? If you going to mention Varda then you might aswell have mentioned Resnais, Bresson and Melville.

[@transparentsoulspul5507]

Out of all the information that he is able to portrait on the video, that is what you decide to pick on?

[@w.iraheta3769]

@@transparentsoulspul5507 Yes. Overall nice overview but missing some critical names.

[@shanequastunningbrave5376]

Some great films were made in that era but auteur theory went on to often ignores the most creative person, the writer. It also ruined a lot of films and filmmakers as it's overly self conscious and often compensates for lack of storytelling. "That story sucked" "Yeah yeah yeah but let me talk for 3 hours on 'symbolism' in it.

[@johnbobjoe8322]

If a director is just directing the script of another writer without any notable influence then their likely not an auteur (or at the very least it’s not a work truly representative of an auteur’s authorship). Typically directors praised as auteurs are also the writers (or co-writers) of their films.

[@danemon8423]

but sometimes a good director can turn a basic or "bad" scenario into a really good movie thanks to the visuals, music. But again what u are talking about is the same problem the directors faced before that. People used to recognize only the writers and the actors and neglecting directors also because of the single way of directing movie

[@joshcastro739]

Can u stop speaking with the same cadence sorry lol

[@16sputnik7]

I. Good content. 2. Get a voice artist.

[@tatehildyard5332]

I kind of like his South African accent. It makes his videos stand out more from the army of British and North American white guys occupying this space

[@captain4595]

@@tatehildyard5332 how do you know it's a South African accent?

[@BusterReeko]

1. Unsubscribe

[@kiaandavids755]

@@captain4595 i'm from south africa, its most certainly a south african accent.

[@captain4595]

@@kiaandavids755 So you are a Boer or a black