In 2025, Richard Linklater is prominently active with two films debuting at the New York Film Festival, both spotlighting significant figures in arts and cinema. Among these projects, his film Nouvelle Vague stands out as a homage to the French New Wave movement and director Jean-Luc Godard’s groundbreaking debut Breathless, offering a reflective yet uneven tribute to the pioneering era of cinema. This year’s output affirms Linklater’s ongoing fascination with influential cultural moments while exploring the challenges of capturing such a revered legacy.
Exploring the Storyline Behind Nouvelle Vague
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Paris in 1959, Nouvelle Vague immerses viewers in the height of the French New Wave, a movement led by young film critics turned directors like François Truffaut and Claude Chabrol, who emphasized the vision of the auteur. The film centers on Jean-Luc Godard, portrayed by Guillaume Marbeck, as he struggles to produce his first full-length feature, Breathless. Godard’s philosophy that criticism becomes meaningful only through creation propels him forward, while his efforts to make the film under tight constraints reveal the tumult of the project.
Linklater’s narrative chronicles the chaotic, improvisational nature of the Breathless shoot, which, in reality, took 23 days but is compressed to 20 in the film. The story spotlights the low-budget conditions, the unpredictable interactions between cast and crew, including producer Georges de Beauregard and American actress Jean Seberg, played by Zoey Deutch, and the creative spontaneity that defined the production. This behind-the-scenes perspective invites audiences to witness the evolution of a film that would become a cinematic landmark.
How Nouvelle Vague Echoes the French New Wave Style Without Copying It
To authentically recreate the era, Linklater incorporates several stylistic choices typical of the French New Wave, including filming in black and white using a 4:3 aspect ratio accompanied by grainy textures, while predominantly employing the French language. However, rather than simply replicating Godard’s distinct techniques, such as jump cuts, the film delves into how these approaches developed.
For instance, we see how the guerrilla-style shooting on Parisian streets utilized a disguised mail cart to conceal the handheld camera, a technique famously used in Breathless, along with the participation of cinematographer Raoul Coutard, depicted by Matthieu Penchinat. The film also features the iconic extended walk-and-talk scenes along the Champs-Élysées with stars Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo (played by Aubry Dullin), highlighting the plan to overdub their dialogue later. Instead of rehearsed lines, these actors express curiosity about the shoot’s unfolding events, emphasizing the film’s focus on creative process over polished final products.
While Nouvelle Vague offers an insightful portrayal of Breathless’s production, its real strength lies in Linklater’s ability to capture informal moments between scenes. These quieter intervals—like the crew relaxing at a café, Seberg teaching Belmondo American dance moves, or Godard engaging in pinball—humanize the figures, portraying them as individuals beyond their artistic reputations. Guillaume Marbeck’s interpretation of Godard presents the director as a mix of brilliance and youthful temper, perpetually hidden behind sunglasses and a cigarette, blending admiration with playful critique.
When Homage Starts to Hinder Storytelling
Despite the affectionate depiction of the French New Wave, Nouvelle Vague occasionally becomes weighed down by its own reverence. The screenplay, written by Holly Gent and Vincent Palmo and adapted into French by Michèle Halberstadt and Laetitia Masson, meticulously enumerates key moments from the Breathless shoot. Scenes rapidly move through milestones like Godard’s filming of Michel Poiccard’s shootout with a policeman and the shot capturing Paris streetlamps switching on behind Michel.
However, this sequence of detailed reenactments sometimes feels mechanical, as though ticking off a checklist of trivia about Breathless rather than embracing the spontaneity that characterized its creation. This adherence to strict chronology and completeness undermines the improvisational spirit that made the original film so revolutionary. At times, the narrative struggles to maintain freshness, and audiences might sense the tension between admiration and narrative momentum.
Nevertheless, the overall tone of Nouvelle Vague remains warm and respectful. It balances appreciating a landmark in film history with moments of levity, avoiding excessive seriousness. Fans of the French New Wave will likely find the insider homage rewarding, just as much as the casual viewers might enjoy the naturalistic “hangout” scenes that Linklater excels at portraying.
Release Details and Cultural Importance
Nouvelle Vague premiered at the New York Film Festival and is slated for limited theatrical release on October 31, followed by a Netflix debut on November 14. As one of Linklater’s works in 2025, it reinforces his continued engagement with influential artists and milestones, here focusing on a cinematic movement that reshaped global filmmaking.
The film’s significance lies in its dual role as both a historical recount and a character-driven exploration of creativity, capturing the tension between artistic vision and practical challenges. While it may not fully escape the shadow of its subject, Nouvelle Vague preserves the restless energy and innovative spirit that defined Godard’s legacy, serving as both tribute and reflection for contemporary audiences intrigued by the making of a masterpiece.
