History Film / Breathless

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A remake was made in TheEighties, starring Creator/RichardGere.

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''Breathless'' is a 1960 crime and drama film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is ''"À bout de souffle"'' which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath". Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Film/HiroshimaMonAmour'', it gained much attention as it was part of the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave. It is also seen as one of the very first examples of Neo-Noir, as it openly acknowledges and plays around with several common FilmNoir tropes.

The basic plot is fairly simple, seasoned by Godard with pop-cultural meta-commentary and Paris travelogue. Petty criminal Michel, who models himself on the film persona of Creator/HumphreyBogart, steals a car and, seeing that a policeman is following him on a motorcycle, shoots the cop. He then flees to Paris and hides out with his American girlfriend.

''Breathless'' made an international star of Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo and raised the profile of Creator/JeanSeberg, whose Hollywood career had stalled when she starred in the big-budget flop ''Saint Joan''.

* BoyishShortHair: Patricia.

** PlayedForDrama in the end [[spoiler:when he is shot and his girlfriend moves her thumb across her lips]].

* TheCameo: Creator/JeanPierreMelville plays the writer Parvulescu who is insiped by Creator/VladimirNabokov.

* JumpCut: The movie [[TropeCodifier helped popularize them]]. However, they weren't done because of stylistic choice as much as the fact that Goddard needed to shorten the picture, so he got rid of frames randomly. [[UnreliableNarrator Or so he claimed]].
* LeFilmArtistique: The summary at the top? Only really effects about 15 minutes of the movie. The majority of it is mainly long, heavily adlibbed discussions between Michel, Patricia and occasionally other characters which add relatively little to the story. Still entertaining, though.
* LostInTranslation: The closing lines of the film are notoriously difficult to properly translate. Depending on how it's rendered, the entire conclusion of the two main characters changes drastically.

''Breathless'' made an international star of former boxer Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo and raised the profile of Creator/JeanSeberg, whose Hollywood career had stalled when she starred in the big-budget flop ''Saint Joan''.

* CoolShades: Michel is sporting a pair in most scenes.

* {{Fanboy}}: Michel is one of Creator/HumphreyBogart.

* RuleOfCool: Godard always adheres to this rule.

* SuicideByCop: Arguable case. Michel kills a policeman and resists arrest, so his death isn't unpredictable.

* VillainProtagonist: Michel.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is ''"À bout de souffle"'' which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath". Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Film/HiroshimaMonAmour'', it gained much attention as it was part of the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave. It is also seen as one of the very first examples of Neo-Noir, as it openly acknowledges and plays around with several common FilmNoir tropes.

The basic plot is fairly simple, seasoned by Godard with pop-cultural meta-commentary and Paris travelogue. Petty criminal Michel steals a car and, seeing that a policeman is following him on a motorcycle, shoots the cop. He then flees to Paris and hides out with his American girlfriend.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is ''"À bout de souffle"'' which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath". Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Film/HiroshimaMonAmour'', it gained much attention as it was part of the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave. It is also seen as one of the very first examples of Neo Noir, as it openly acknowledges and plays around with several common FilmNoir tropes.

The basic plot is fairly simple, seasoned by Godard with pop-cultural meta-commentary and Paris travelogue. Petty criminal Michel steals a car and, seeing that a policeman is following him on motorcycle, shoots the cop. He then flees to Paris and hides out with his American girlfriend.

''Breathless'' made an international star of former boxer Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo and raised the profile of Jean Seberg, whose Hollywood career had stalled when she starred in the big budget flop ''Saint Joan''.

* ForeignRemake : Was remade in 1983 into an American film starring Creator/RichardGere. Not well known and its critical reputation is dismal.

''Breathless'' (''À bout de souffle'') is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is "À bout de souffle" which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath." Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Film/HiroshimaMonAmour'', it gained much attention as it was part of the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave. It is also seen as one of the very first examples of Neo Noir, as it openly acknowledges and plays around with several common FilmNoir tropes.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is "À bout de souffle" which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath." Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Film/HiroshimaMonAmour'', it gained much attention as it was part of the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave. It is also seen as one of the very first examples of Neo Noir, as it openly acknowledges and plays around with several common FilmNoir tropes.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is "À bout de souffle" which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath." Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Film/HiroshimaMonAmour'', it gained attention for the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave. It is also seen as one of the very first examples of Neo Noir, as it openly acknowledges and plays around with several common FilmNoir tropes.

* JumpCut: The movie [[TropeCodifier helped popularize them]]. However, they weren't done because of stylistic choice as much as the fact that Goddard neded to shorten the picture, so he got rid of frames randomly. [[UnreliableNarrator Or so he claimed]].

* SchoolStudyMedia: If you've seen this film, you're most likely a film student.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is "À bout de souffle" which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath." Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Hiroshima, Mon Amour'', it gained attention for the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave. It is also seen as one of the very first examples of Neo Noir, as it openly acknowledges and plays around with several common FilmNoir tropes.

* CharacterTics: Michel moves his thumb across his lips multiple times to appear badass, as well as a ShoutOut to Humphrey Bogart's role in ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon''.

A remake was done in TheEighties starring RichardGere.

* {{Cameo}}: Creator/JeanPierreMelville plays the writer Parvulescu who is insiped by Creator/VladimirNabokov.

The basic plot is fairly simple, seasoned by Godard with pop-cultural meta-commentary and Paris travelogue. Petty criminal Michel steals a car and, seeing that a policeman is following him on motorcycle, shoots said cop. He then flees to Paris and hides out with his American girlfriend.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is "À bout de souffle" which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath." Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''Film/The400Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Hiroshima, Mon Amour'', it gained attention for the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is "À bout de souffle" which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath." Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''[[Film/TheAdventuresOfAntoineDoinel Les 400 coups]]'' and Alain Resnais' ''Hiroshima, Mon Amour'', it gained attention for the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave.

''Breathless'' is a 1960 film directed by Creator/JeanLucGodard, in his feature filmmaking debut. Its original French title is "À bout de souffle" which translates literally to "at breath's end" with the general meaning being "out of breath." Along with Creator/FrancoisTruffaut's ''The 400 Blows'' and Alain Resnais' ''Hiroshima, Mon Amour'', it gained attention for the UsefulNotes/FrenchNewWave.

* ForeignRemake : Was remade in 1983 into an American film starring Richard Gere. Not well known and its critical reputation is dismal.

* TrollingTrandslator: Michel uses numerous slang expressions. Patricia knows only the regular French but not the informal lingo spoken in the streets. She always asks Michel for the meaning of those expressions and he often translates incorrectly to troll her.

** PlayedForDrama in the end [[spoiler:when he is shot and his girlfriend moves her thumb across her lips]]. Or PlayedForLaughs, depending on your [[BlackComedy humor]].