The New Wave By Itself 1995 (1964)
Distributed by First Run/Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Janine Bazin and André S. Labarthe
Directed by Robert Valey and André S. Labarthe
VHS, color, 57 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Film Studies, Communication
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Oksana Dykyj, Head, Visual Media Resources, Concordia University, MontrealOriginally produced as part of the television series, Cinéma de notre temps (Cinema of Our Time); The New Wave by Itself is an interesting archival document placing us within the immediacy of the French New Wave in 1964.
A current retrospective work on the historical significance of the French New Wave would tend to have a more contemporary academic viewpoint whereas this significant documentary shows us the filmmakers discussing their work as they were making them, without theoretical hindsight. In fact, this episode of the television show begins and ends with a documentary crew shooting Jean Luc Godard directing Bande à part (The Outsiders) in March 1964.
The filmmakers discuss the success and failure of their work and philosophically examine the work of their colleagues. Their interviews are intercut with clips of their films and their articulate and pithy remarks easily sum up their concerns. Claude Chabrol and Jacques Demy provide anecdotes, Jean Rouch talks about wanting to replace the context of the traditional film industry with new films and new ways of looking. Agnes Varda discusses her desire to make films that are difficult to watch but are thought-provoking. Georges Franju recalls his work in documentary and his views on reality and beauty. Jacques Rozier, Jacques Rivette and Jean-Daniel Pollet recall their experiences with Pollet describing his failure. Francois Truffaut details his levels of experimentation as he worked and Jean Luc Godard contextualizes the moment by relating it to French film history. One wonders whether as an inside homage to Godard, the documentary crew shot Godard speaking with his trademark jumpcuts for effect!
This 1995 re-issue of the original television program is an important record of film history as it unfolded in the 1960s. It is what should be considered an essential primary source for looking at the French New Wave. Very highly recommended for academic areas of film studies, communication studies and cultural studies
See another EMRO review of the same title.