Two in the Wave

Emmanuel Laurent/France/2009/90 min/tbc/French with English subtitles

The creation and implosion of the French New Wave movement of cinema in the 50s and 60s is the subject of Emmanuel Laurent’s documentary Two in the Wave, which chronicles the illustrious friendship, and bitter disputes of the genre’s pioneers, the critics-tuned-directors, Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut.

Rich in archive footage of such classics as Breathless and The 400 Blows, and interviews with some of the industry’s key players at the time, Laurent’s ode to the two writer/directors begins with a wealth of information about the French new wave movement’s conception, reception, popularity and demise. Initially viewed as controversial, with public opinion largely divided on the genre’s rejection of traditional film-making techniques, and its use of new jump-cut methods of editing, improvisation and long takes, but these conventions quickly became the norm and led to new wave becoming one of film’s most defining eras of the 20^th century. History aside, Laurent then turns to the reason behind Godard and Truffaut’s fall out, as their growing success led to differing opinions on the genre’s direction and led to the demise of a long friendship. Thorough and informative, Two in the Wave handles an under-reported subject with the utmost care and respect.

Showing @ Filmhouse, 18^th of June, 20:15, 26^th of June, 15:30