Review Of Film Breathless - Essay Example

08 June Review of Breathless: As one of the most critically acclaimed movies made by Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless proves to be a highly thought-provoking and riveting film. The protagonist Michel Poiccard is presented as a remarkably complicated man who has many layers. Instead of simply accusing him on grounds of his reckless and somewhat eccentric personality like myriad other critics, I feel strongly connected to his life experiences. This is because this wayward wandering criminal holds a very unique approach to life and denies that human nature is evil or good. Also, he refuses to be constrained by laws and social rules which highlights his liberated personality. He changes his decisions all the time whenever he sees chances and opportunities. Through his options and experiences, he considers himself a rebel to the capitalist social system. However, as an exuberant extremist, he also happens to be limited and powerless. Basically, Michel seems to suffer from gradual exhaustion of his limited energy, passion, and courage. In the end, he is dead on his feet. Social power always punishes individuals who are rebellious and discontent with the original social system. Fighting against the social system often happens to be a doomed battle in which an individual like Michel either chooses to die or has no choice but to surrender. Faced with the looming prospect of death, Michel still believes in the motto “All or nothing” which identifies how a person can never be both a rebel and a bender. He famously claims in the movie, “You’ve got to have all or nothing” (Godard and Andrew 7). Michel’s last moments are considered some of the most iconic moments in French cinema. Being a rebel chased by police, Michel naturally feels tired and drained from all the fuss. He craves comfort and warmth amidst much darkness. For example, waking up next to a woman seems like a very happy and fulfilling experience for him. He needs such a woman in his life who could make him feel fulfilled taking him away from all the drama in his life. He wants such a companion not only to become able to satisfy his sexual needs, but he also has other hidden desires embedded deep in his heart. Michel tells a story in the film in which a man who steals 5000000 francs finds a woman and together they spend their time as a happy couple pampering themselves. The thief in Michel’s story makes the woman he likes his partner by confessing to her. Just like the man in his story, Michel longs for such a blissful life quite desperately and requires a woman who would act as his lover and partner. He believes that if he ever becomes fortunate enough to find such a woman, they will prove to be the strongest support and spiritual sustenance for each other. Driven by his desire, he chooses Patricia who is an American girl. Her beauty, sexual attraction, and a unique American demeanor mesmerize him. Interestingly, by nature, Patricia also happens to be obsessed with adventure and novelty like Michel. Research also confirms that “Michel and Patricia are both lost souls, wandering aimlessly through life” (Ghosh). However, a tragedy ensues between them soon enough. Michel holds Patricia very high considering her his girl. Unfortunately, this kind of superficial agreement usually is very dangerous. The contrast between reality and fantasy in the film is so great that it produces disillusionment and disappointment. Michel gets this wrong impression from his union with Patricia that they are meant to be when the reality suggests otherwise. His mistake is that he allows himself to indulge in his fantasy and abstains from regaining consciousness. It would be wrong to claim that Michel remains absolutely clueless during the entire film. This is because he begins to gradually realize some time after spending time with Patricia that she is actually weak and chicken-hearted. Therefore, at one point in the film he becomes so overpowered by madness that he seizes her by the throat and threatens to kill her if she does not smile when he counts to nine. It is obviously a test, but Patricia disappointingly succumbs to his threatening. He ends up calling her a chicken. Yes, a chicken is by no means going to become his criminal partner. She is bound to yield to the social power. Patricia’s betrayal is the end of Michel’s disillusionment. He refuses to give in. He stops running away and finally settles. His final insistence is upon death itself. There is no midway path for him because it has always been all or nothing for him. It has never been in his nature to make compromises or settle for deals. One question that remains is that why Michel continues to be fascinated by Patricia despite becoming confident of her real nature that is disappointing and not likeable to him. Though I continue to search for a satisfying answer to this question, I know this much in my heart that Michel ends up trusting the wrong person. This mistake becomes the beginning of his disillusionment. It is impossible for me to despise this character. I know that he is not the most reputable character, but he is at least not an obnoxious man either. From my perspective, Pépé le Moko and Michel have a lot in common. Pépé, a notorious criminal on the run, also longs for his hometown and lover. His passionate feelings for his lover remind me of Michel’s infatuation for Patricia. A handsome, unrestrained, and untraditional criminal is in love with a girl he can never have. This is a kind of that thing which can be characterized as sad and beautiful at the same time. In Pépé’s mind, the girl he likes is the epitome of Paris. That explains why she is worth taking all the risks. He exposes himself, gets arrested, and embraces death just to see her face. Love is the essence of human nature. However, it can also be lethal sometimes. It is so hard for people to blame a lover. Even though he is an infamous burglar who is supposed to be hated, he still finds it hard to blame his lover. In the end of this heart-broken film, Pépé also meets a tragic demise just like Michel. His beloved never gets the chance to see him. I feel sorry for the tragic fate of Pépé as he is also doomed from the beginning. I think his going back to Paris is a pathetic yet beautiful suicidal action. This is because his death is so romantic. Tragic heroes always move our hearts the most. That is the charm of heroes like Michel and Pépé. Works cited: Ghosh, Palash. “An Appreciation of ‘Breathless’: The 1960 French New Wave Film That Launched The Careers Of Godard, Truffaut, Belmondo, Seberg And Changed Cinema.” International Business Times. Ibtimes.com, 29 Mar. 2013. Web. 09 Jun. 2015. Godard, Jean L., and Andrew, Dudley. Breathless. Rutgers University Press, 1987. 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