More Than a Movie: An Artistic Seance
The announcement lands with the quiet thud of a film canister hitting a dusty archive shelf: Richard Linklater is making a movie called 'Nouvelle Vague.' For anyone who has followed his career—a long, meandering conversation about time, humanity, and the beauty of the process—the title feels both inevitable and audacious. It’s not just a film; it’s a statement, a dialogue with one of cinema’s most revered and revolutionary figures, Jean-Luc Godard.
But what does it actually mean to make a tribute film in 2024? Is it mere imitation, a nostalgic costume party set in 1960s Paris? Or is it something deeper? The core question you’re likely asking is not just what the film is, but why it is. This isn't a simple movie preview. This is an analysis, a deep dive into how 'Nouvelle Vague' functions as a tribute, a piece of criticism, and a vital new entry into the filmography of Richard Linklater, one of America's most thoughtful directors.
The Anxiety of Influence: Living Up to a Legend
As our mystic, Luna, would observe, this project isn't just about cameras and scripts; it's about energy. To make a film about the French New Wave is to willingly step into the shadow of a giant. It’s an act of artistic summoning, an attempt to commune with the spirit of a master like Jean-Luc Godard. There's a profound symbolic weight to this, a creative pressure that goes beyond box office expectations. This is the anxiety of influence made manifest.
Think of it less as filmmaking and more as an act of translation. Richard Linklater is translating the chaotic, revolutionary energy of Godard's era for a modern audience. It's a delicate dance between homage and originality. How do you honor your hero without becoming a pale imitation? How do you borrow a style without losing your own voice? This film is a spiritual exploration for Linklater, a way to publicly reconcile with the art that formed him. It’s a shedding of leaves, a return to the roots to see what new branches might grow.
Deconstructing the Tribute: Godard's DNA in 'Nouvelle Vague'
To move from the symbolic into the structural, we need to examine the mechanics of the film itself. As our sense-maker Cory would say, 'Let’s look at the underlying pattern here.' The tribute isn't just in the title; it's baked into the cinematic DNA of the project.
According to reports from IndieWire and Variety, the 'Nouvelle Vague' movie plot centers on the behind-the-scenes making of a French New Wave film. Set in 1960s Paris, it follows a young American student, played by Zoey Deutch, who becomes entangled in the production. This self-reflexive premise—a film about making a film—is pure Godard. It immediately evokes his tendency to deconstruct the medium itself. We can anticipate seeing specific Godardian techniques that Richard Linklater will reinterpret: jump cuts that disrupt time, characters breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly, and philosophical musings that prioritize ideas over a conventional narrative, much like in Godard's seminal film Breathless.
This isn't random; it's a cycle. Richard Linklater has always been obsessed with process—the process of growing up in Boyhood, of a relationship in the Before trilogy. Now, he's turning that lens onto the process of artistic creation itself. You have permission to see this film not just as a story, but as a masterclass in cinematic language, taught by a director in conversation with his idol.
The Verdict: Does 'Nouvelle Vague' Stand on Its Own?
We've analyzed the symbolic weight and the technical blueprint. But our realist Vix would cut through the noise and ask the only question that matters: 'Is it actually any good?'
Let’s be brutally honest. A film this steeped in cinema history runs a major risk: it could feel like homework. For audiences unfamiliar with Godard, the stylistic tics and philosophical detours might feel alienating. He didn't forget to make a conventional blockbuster; he chose not to. The success of 'Nouvelle Vague' will likely be measured on two different scales. As Linklater's tribute to Godard, it appears to be a meticulous, heartfelt, and intellectually rigorous success. But as a standalone film for a general audience? The jury is still out.
However, this is precisely the territory Richard Linklater thrives in. He makes films for people who love the medium itself. 'Nouvelle Vague' is not an endpoint; it's a conversation starter. It succeeds by forcing us to engage with film history, to question why stories are told the way they are. Its potential appearance at a venue like the Cannes film festival in 2025 would solidify its status as a serious piece of art, not just entertainment. The ultimate verdict is that 'Nouvelle Vague' justifies its existence not by perfectly recreating the past, but by using the past to ask vital questions about the future of film.
FAQ
1. What is Richard Linklater's new movie 'Nouvelle Vague' about?
The film is set in 1960s Paris and follows a young American student (Zoey Deutch) who gets a role in a French New Wave film. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the revolutionary filmmaking style of that era, serving as a tribute to director Jean-Luc Godard.
2. Is 'Nouvelle Vague' a remake of Godard's 1990 film of the same name?
No, it is not a direct remake. Richard Linklater's film uses the title to evoke the spirit and style of the entire French New Wave movement, of which Jean-Luc Godard was a key figure. Godard's film is a separate work.
3. Who stars in Richard Linklater's 'Nouvelle Vague'?
The film stars Zoey Deutch in a leading role, alongside other cast members who portray the cast and crew of the film-within-a-film.
4. How does this film connect to the French New Wave?
The film connects directly by recreating the aesthetic and philosophical concerns of the French New Wave. Expect stylistic choices like jump cuts, naturalistic acting, and a self-aware narrative that comments on the act of filmmaking itself, all hallmarks of directors like Godard.
References
en.wikipedia.org — Jean-Luc Godard - Wikipedia
variety.com — Richard Linklater’s ‘Nouvelle Vague’ Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics | Variety
indiewire.com — Richard Linklater’s ‘Nouvelle Vague’ Is a Godard-Inspired Love Letter to the French New Wave | IndieWire