Richard Linklater’s latest film, “Nouvelle Vague,” premiered at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival to a 10-minute standing ovation. The movie, shot entirely in French, tells the story of the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s seminal French New Wave film, “Breathless.”
Guillaume Marbeck stars as Godard, Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo. Linklater, known for his naturalistic style and films like the “Before” trilogy and “Dazed and Confused,” described the project as a loving homage to the groundbreaking way “Breathless” was made.
“It represented freedom and the notion of the personal film,” Linklater said of the New Wave’s impact on him as a filmmaker. “I felt like I was 28 years old making this film. I had to erase my experience and get back to my first film mentality.”
When asked about the tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened for films “made in foreign lands,” a topic of discussion at the Cannes film market, Linklater dismissed the possibility.
Linklater’s homage to French cinema
“That’s not going to happen, right? That guy changes his mind like 50 times a day,” he said.
Deutch expressed her desire to see more filming return to Los Angeles, citing the city’s rich history, studios, and culture. Linklater, who filmed “Nouvelle Vague” in France with French producers, praised the French film industry’s support for its own projects. “I really admire the French film industry in the way they are so focused and take care of their industry.
They make sure it’s healthy, and they nurture it,” Linklater said. “And our country, the U.S., could use a little bit of that.”
