It's strange how all early Godards up to Week-end (1967) have all become quite often-talked about movies and a lot of them sort of classics. All beside of this one (and his short movies during this periode): I haven't seen it neither because it doesn't exist on DVD but I'm more and more really looking forward to see it.
shareIt is very good, a great look at advertisings affect on people and how different people treat romance. Well worth the watch.
Narrator: I am Jack's raging bile duct.
It is very underrated. I am not sure why, but maybe because it was liked by critics who usually panned Godard's films, (e.g. Dwight MacDonald, John Simon, Stanley Kauffmann.) I totally disagree with what is said about this film on the other page; this is Godard at his best, as far as I am concerned. The only major flaw for me is interviewing the characters on screen (and having the title character later doing the interviewing herself). That is journalism and not drama, but the rest of the film is first-rank, up there with "Contempt", if not "Breathless" and a little above the monstrously uneven "Weekend".
shareLike the honestly dumber critics you reference, you misunderstand what Godard does in his films: He uses every possible aspect of film, including the interview, as legitimate way to flesh out the characters. "It's all and only cinema", Godard never tires of pointing out.
Native Angeleno
It's out on DVD now. I hope you see it.
The reason why it's lesser known Godard is that for one thing it doesn't star Anna Karina or other big names like Leaud or Belmondo. The other thing is that it's one of Godard's most restrained sober efforts lacking a lot of the stylistic tricks and excercises of his other films(though I don't know why that stunning scene played out in negative never caught on...it's like an abstract impressionist painting or something). Another reason could be is that while people tend to make jokes about Godard's politics they don't like it when Godard is nuanced and subtle and doesn't spell things out. Even his "political" films examine the politics with seriousness.
I think it's among the best films of the 60's and among Godard's 10 best. Anyone who thinks that Godard was a cold director who had no understanding of human beings needs to be seen this film and then made to eat every last syllable of his words.
"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes
I just watched this and was pleasantly surprised. I figured, since it wasn't one of his most talked about, that it wouldn't be that interesting. I think I enjoyed it more than "Band of Outsiders", which I own and have seen a few times (and also came out the same year).
Really underrated Godard. I kept feeling like he was going his version of a Bergman film. Closeups, long takes, long monologues, etc. Still Godard, no matter what, though.
Ok, well, I hate to be the party pooper here, but, I'm sorry, I hated this film. One of Godard's best? Hardly. Even the goddess Karina couldn't have saved this one, although it might have been slighly better with her. The reason? Just boring...the biggest indictment you can give a film. And, yes, I think I'm qualified enough to comment intelligently on this director and his work, because I've already seen about ten of his films, with more on the way (I'm in the middle of a Godard marathon). Bottom three Godard: Une femme mariee, Vivre sa vie (atrocious, though could have been worse without Anna) and Le petit soldat. Top three Godard: Le mepris, Bande à part and Une femme est une femme. Also loved Pierrot le fou.
Still waiting for Weekend to be available on netflix...
Vivre sa vie is an incredible masterpiece, but I guess if you didn't like that one you wouldn't ever have liked Une femme mariee.
shareone of my favorites of him, for sure. it was the last movie i saw from Godard's period from 1959 and 1967. and i regret taking so long to see it.