"Breathless" Review

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 https://frenchculture.org/events/9921-breathless


    This week during class we watched "Breathless" directed by Jean Luc Godard. This film had many surprising and questionable actions by the main character Michel. The first scene begins with him calling himself an "asshole" and we see later why he calls himself that. From the start of the film we see Michel steal cars and kill a cop. Michel's actions do not stop there as he steals money from one of his girlfriends and would leave restaurants without paying. 

    The scene that shocked me the most was Michel's reaction to Patricia saying that she is pregnant. Michel responded quickly by telling her she needs to be careful and that it definitely isn't his. Michel's treatment of women, especially Patricia, is uncalled for and makes for cringey moments. 

    There was one scene where it reminded me of a Bonnie and Clyde where they steal the car from the parking garage. This scene is interesting because it is almost like Patricia is trying to please or get acceptance from Michel by trying to impress him and show that she is also capable of stealing and being as bad as he his. However, I believe that Patricia begins to realize that she cannot live Michel's lifestyle and live with him in Italy. Therefore, she calls the police on him. 

The other interesting part of the last scene is that we see a little bit of a soft spot in Michel as he denies a getaway ride from one of his friends as he wants to try and stay with Patricia. At least that is what it seemed like for about 30 seconds until he is shot and runs 100 yards down the street before falling and calling Patricia a "scumbag" before dying. Michel is truly an "asshole" as he called himself in the beginning scene.   



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