On September 14th, Jean Luc Godard’s Breathless was released to the prestigious Criterion Collection.  Originally released in 1960, the dialogue-driven picture with quick cuts and striking cinematography was a groundbreaking film that started the French New Wave and blasted director Godard onto the filmmaking scene.  The film also features a star-making performance from Jean-Paul Belmondo.

 

If you have yet to see Breathless then I highly recommend you to watch it on Criterion or go to the Bell Lightbox where it is playing as an exclusive engagement starting on Thursday, September 30th.  Although it wouldn’t be on my personal list of the top 100 of all time, the film comes in at number 18 on TIFF’s list of Essential Cinema.

 

The Blu-ray includes archival interviews, video essays, an 80-minute French documentary on the making of the film and a 1959 short film by Godard featuring Belmondo.  It comes packaged with an insightful little book packed with essays and information on the film.

 

-John C.