The Most Important Movement in Cinema — Why We All Steal From It

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French Movies — We look at one of the most influential cinematic movies in history: the French New Wave.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to the French New Wave
00:49 - History and Definition
03:06 - Filmmaking Techniques
07:08 - Narrative Techniques
13:53 - The Left Bank
06:15 - Impact
18:54 - Takeaways

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NOUVELLE VAGUE

If you know anything about cinema history, you've probably heard about the French New Wave (or La Nouvelle Vague). The movement is widely considered to be one of the most influential in movie history, and it continues to shape how films are made to this day. In this video, we take a look at the complex and evergreen moment in French movies, and examine why it has had the lasting impact we see today. Take out your French dictionary.

INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH NEW WAVE

The French New Wave, which emerged in the late 1950s and peaked in the early 1960s, revolutionized cinema by largely rejecting the polished conventions of traditional studio filmmaking. Directors like Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Agnes Varda (Cleo From 9 to 7) favored handheld cameras, natural lighting, and jump cuts. Their films were often shot on location using minimal crews and non-professional actors, lending a raw, spontaneous feel which evoked the Italian Neorealists. At the same time, they borrowed from stylized genres like noir to create something audiences had never seen before.

FRENCH NEW WAVE FILMS THEMES

French New Wave filmmakers were deeply influenced by existentialist philosophy and postwar disillusionment. Their characters often struggled with questions of identity, morality, and alienation. Many narratives featured young, disaffected protagonists-- antiheroes navigating an absurd or indifferent world. Films like The 400 Blows (Truffaut) and Breathless (Godard) subverted traditional plot structures or discarded them entirely, replacing them with open-ended narratives that prioritized psychological complexity over neat resolution.

THE LEFT BANK

While many of the most iconic figures of the New Wave were associated with Cahiers du Cinéma, a parallel group of filmmakers emerged known as the “Left Bank.” This loosely defined movement included Agnès Varda, Alain Resnais, and Chris Marker. Often more experimental and politically engaged, Left Bank directors were closely tied to literature and other non-cinema art forms.

INFLUENCE OF THE FRENCH NEW WAVE EXPLAINED

The French New Wave has had a profound and lasting impact on cinema. Its techniques, and spirit of rebellion, have inspired filmmakers in the U.S. (Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino) and beyond. The movement helped cement the idea of the “auteur” and redefined what cinema could be: personal, political, poetic. Its legacy lives on in contemporary independent filmmaking, where low budgets and high ambition continue to thrive, as well as even the most mainstream blockbuster. The French New Wave didn’t just change how films looked and felt. It changed how filmmakers thought.


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♬ SONGS USED:

"La Lampadaire" - Michel Legrand
"Panic" - Caravan Palace
"La Valse de Paris" - Evert Z
"Dixieland" - Martial Solal
"Le pont transbordeur" - Michel Legrand
"A Battle in the East" - Rhythm Scott
"British News Team" - Lance Conrad
"New York Herald Tribune" - Martial Solal
"High Rollin'" - Stefano Mastronardi
"Thème d'amour" - Martial Solal
"Poursuite" - Martial Solal"
"Blues Chez Le Bougnat" - Michel Legrand
"Vivre sa vie" - Michel Legrand
"All Star" - ANBR
"Au Revoir Doux Chaton" - Bob Hart
"La joueuse" - Michel Legrand, Corinne Marchand
"Camille" - Georges Delerue
"Générique" - Michel Legrand
"La mort" - Martial Solal
"With You in Montmartre" - Retrophonic
"Valse du Café du Fleuve" - Giovanni Fusco, Georges Delerue
"Arrivée des camionneurs" - Michel Legrand
"Le Paris Village" - Retrophonic
"You Never Can Tell" - Chuck Berry
"Laisse tomber les filles" - France Gall
"Au Revoir" - Flight of the Conchords

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#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking