Understanding the Cinematography of Raoul Coutard

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I go through some of Raoul Coutard's cinematography techniques to help you understand his unique style.
Just to be clear: Raoul Coutard changed his style to suit the movies he shot. The goal of this video and article is to drum up enthusiasm and a yearning to learn more.
Think of it as a tribute, nothing more is intended.
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[@monsieurcinoch]

Hello @Wolfcrow, please make one about french cinematographer Bruno Nuytten (actually a rock star of cinematography during 70's 80's). He shot "Les Valseuses" 1974 from Bertrand Blier with Gérard Depardieu, "Tchao Pantin" 1983 from Claude Berri, "Detective" from Jean-Luc Godard 1985. He worked with the top 5 directors of 70's & 80's, and as he was at the top of his career, he decided to quit definitively movie sets... His cinematography was very modern and aesthetic. -- You should also heard about Caroline Champetier, female french cinematographer still working (The Innocents, by Anne Fontaine 2016). One of the greatest french cinematographer in France nowadays. Amazing work in toe curve. You should see "Des Hommes et des Dieux", by Xavier Beauvois. She's married to Jean-Pierre Beauviala, founder & engineer at Aaton Cameras & Sound Devices. Thanks for your amazing work with that channel.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome! Thanks for the information.

[@leocelente]

your videos are pure gold.

[@TheFitchproductions]

Sean Bobbit is a underrated monster at the camera

[@kellyeaton7252]

I've been following you for some time now and find you to be incredibly concise and precise with your evaluations. more importantly, you don't fill this with the fluff of your opinions (generally) regardless that you likely have exceptionally dynamic views. Thank you very much for your work.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@KennyLM3]

Another great study. thanks again

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@antonymonteiro7113]

Thank you so much Sareesh, watched BREATHLESS recently and this video is such a revelation.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@TonyVirili]

Thank you, Sareesh. While I love every one of your videos in this "Understanding the Cinematography of..." series, this one probably has the most examples of movies I can't wait to study. I was really only aware of Breathless.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome. I go through the same revelations every single time.

[@YOUNGCREATIVES]

I really enjoy your videos. I always love to learn about cinematography as I continue to grow as one.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@Thorpal]

Really nice. To keep on with french DOPs, maybe you should do something about Sacha Vierny and/or Bruno Nuytten ? The first is mainly famous for his work with Alain Resnais and Peter Greenaway, the other for what he has done with Marguerite Duras.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@sanketray5015]

Hi, can you analyse and present a video depicting the works of Giorgos Arvanitis (Landscape in the Mist, Ulysses' Gaze, Eternity and a Day)?

[@bradychambers4035]

A few recommendations: James Wong Howe, Ellen Kuras, Ernest Dickerson, Greg Toland, John Toll, Tak Fujimoto, and Haskell Wexler

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

Thank you. Very interesting stuff

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@avtoportret]

Thanks a lot!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@LexArias]

Excellent.. i'm gonna study very deeply his work.. great video..

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@TheFitchproductions]

Maryse Alberti is a cinematographer that would be a very interesting video. He has a documentary background and has shot "The Wrestler" and "Creed".

[@4462tony]

Thanks very much for your nice videos they are excellent. Could you please make one about Eduardo Serra? Thanks

[@skylinefilms123]

this reminded me please do Henri Decaë

[@nwb741]

Thanks for another video! They're great. How do you go about your research? It must be difficult finding all the technical specs of all these films. In relation to Coutard, can you think of any other high end cinematographers who utilize the "run and gun" style filmmaking you mentioned with exposing just to available light and finding focus quickly?

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome, and you're right - it is difficult! Just to be clear, Coutard's style looks like "run and gun" but it's not. Run and gun is highly unlikely to deliver beautiful images that also tell a story. Godard's working was highly erratic. Some days he wouldn't shoot at all. You can see they always planned for the best light to "do the deed".

[@jonathanpeck6112]

Could you please do the cinematography of Newton Thomas Sigel (The Usual Suspects, Three Kings, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, X-2, Drive and X-Men: Days of Future Past) ?

[@brunokeusen]

Do one with Rupolph Maté and one with Gabriel Figueroa, please!

[@milhuisen]

Great stuff.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@JoshPendergrassFilms]

you are the best

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@mayankimmortal]

Keep on good job

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks

[@omarperez4272]

Thanks a lot!! What about "Passion" ?? Make a video of it please!!!!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@danyalrasheed1]

You are doing a great job. I was wondering could also do a similar video on Sergei Urusevsky

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, I'll try.

[@CarlosRiveraFernandez]

Freddie Young! pls!

[@Tvanon]

Awesome content as always Would you make a Tom Stern's one? Thanks in advance

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, sure!

[@Swexicaan]

I like

[@thomaspurdy9789]

Could you do a video on Nicolas Roeg?

[@apexanomaly]

Great video, I'm surprised you haven't done Gregg Toland yet.

[@wolfcrow]

Alex Gavin Thanks! It will be worth the wait!

[@apexanomaly]

I look forward to it!

[@ericflores3570]

its never too late

[@caioscovino3341]

Eric Flores one of the best, working with lars von trie or Danny Boyle, he rocks

[@ShuntianJiang]

Please do anthony dod mantle!

[@yashrajendrashah]

Can someone tell me which is the film on 2:29 in the above video? Please, I have been searching for this film since 4 years. I couldn't find it anywhere. Thanks.

[@maicolordonez]

breathless

[@byronkleoyang]

I geeked out when you said Hypergonar. ^_^

[@wolfcrow]

Just rolls of the tongue!

[@byronkleoyang]

Lol

[@bobunitone]

Above and beyond, great work man. What movie is 1:22?

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@xXxFreshManuxXx]

Even though I'm not a fan of his movies, I would really like you making a video about Michael Bay :D I know it's hard, but I think it would be very interesting, just for the sake of it.

[@akiravecchi8426]

michael bay is a director not a cinematographer

[@xXxFreshManuxXx]

Yeah but doesn't he do a lot of his own camera-work?

[@akiravecchi8426]

just because he operates one of the cameras doesn't mean he's a cinematographer.......

[@xXxFreshManuxXx]

Okay, got it...

[@aiglv]

RIP

[@Menapho]

When will you do Bruno Delbonnel?

[@Kinomarat]

please do Bradford Young style.

[@lizaestevez6928]

can you do Geoffrey unsworth the cinematographers that did the best in film

[@caioscovino3341]

crying😭😭😭😭😭

[@wolfcrow]

why?

[@caioscovino3341]

wolfcrow he passed away

[@wolfcrow]

He was a great cinematographer.

[@caioscovino3341]

wolfcrow could you talk abou César charlone, the cinematographer of city of god and blindness, or maybe other brazilian or latin cinematographer, here in brasil we have exelent cinematrographers, like afonso beato, who worked with Pedro almodovar, in movies like all about my mother.

[@wolfcrow]

Sure, Cesar is already on the list. I'll add Beato as well.

[@julianbogner7235]

hey man, i love your Videos ! Because mich they are unique on youtube. can you make a video about james wan?

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, sure!

[@Aersonas]

Sean Bobbitt

[@akiravecchi8426]

Rodrigo Prieto please!

[@Aersonas]

Fabian Wagner

[@whichlens435]

There was artificial light in Breathless, as said, but less than ever, kind of kit, some times four bulbs u'd buy on Amazon today... Light crew & gear was the technical motto for this film, but soon they loose the spirit and tension (why ? yep as u suggest because of greed : so maybe they didn't even understood what they had discovered) and go back to heavy, from Cameflex to fat Mitchell in next films... Btw, Cameflex his an hideous, little french 35mm (and 16mm) cam, but frames are quite OK ! See Breathless in HD, best of all. Buy or find a 8 Go file minimum to get the grain of the Ilford HPS (Ye pushed from 500 to 1000 ASA). The famous scenes in the room in the middle of the film are way too long... but way too long... Not a major drawback, just skip. Not too bad and just so easy to avoid...

[@strongwise1255]

russell carpenter please

[@ookiemand]

For me this one went a bit too fast, and the examples were such short scenes it was hard to identify the things you mentioned. A bit more distinct examples of his best works and scenes in decent quality, with explanation what innovative greatness is present and how it's different would be helpful to me. Still thanks you for the video and research!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@delwynponder1850]

ernest and andrew lazlo

[@TumultFilm]

"like a kid demanding a new toy" is a pretty insulting phrase. especially to describe the contribution of a director who started a movement (and knew how to operate a camera). this feels like you are pretending that you have been in the room when it happend. you can embrace someone, without insulting another.

[@wolfcrow]

Like willing to be stuffed inside a box and be pushed around town? Or maybe having the skill to make images look great with no artificial light, consistently? I don't think it's an insult. You are free to take it any way you wish.

[@BauyrzhanSabit]

Urusevskiy Yusov Rerberg