I could spend an
entire review merely discussion the significance that Breathless had on cinema, internationally. Cinema as we know it
today is still carrying waves of the initial impact of films like Breathless, radical pioneers in an
ever-changing (and growing) art form. Even if you don’t care for French New
Wave or Jean-Luc Godard’s ironic and cold homage to film noir narratives, there
is no denying its ultimate significance and influence that Breathless had on modern cinema.
As I said, I
could spend the entire review discussing the significance of Breathless, but there are 80-pages of
others far better equipped to do so in the booklet insert for Criterion’s dual
format Blu-ray/DVD release of Godard’s classic. The booklet includes an essay
by film scholar Dudley Andrew, collected writings of Godard, François
Truffaut’s original film treatment and Godard’s scenario. This is all with
production photos and cast and crew information as well.
The discs
themselves include a single disc Blu-ray and two DVD discs to fit all of the
material. Along with the spectacular booklet insert, there are enough special
features to fill an entire second DVD. The Blu-ray includes a restored
high-definition digital transfer approved by director of photography Raoul
Coutard, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Special features on both
formats include archival interviews with Godard and actors Jean-Paul Belmondo,
Jean Seberg, and Jean-Pierre Melville, as well as interviews from 2007 with
Coutard, assistant director Pierre Rissient and filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker. Also
included are two video essays and an 80-minute documentary about the making and
significance of Breathless. As if
this were not enough, an additional short film from Godard in 1959, just before
he made Breathless in 1960, is also included in the extras.
Entertainment Value:
7.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 9/10
Historical
Significance: 10/10
Special Features: 10/10
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