Jean-Luc Godard Retrospective

Short Synopsis

Godard’s Cannes hit from 2001 focuses on Edgar (Bruno Putzulu), an author who develops a novel project exploring the four key moments of love. When a beautiful girl is considered for the project he is convinced they have met before, at which point the film jumps back two years in time to investigate his curiosity.

Review

Godard’s Cannes hit from 2001 focuses on Edgar (Bruno Putzulu), an author who develops a novel project exploring the four key moments of love. When a beautiful girl is considered for the project he is convinced they have met before, at which point the film jumps back two years in time to investigate his curiosity.

Filmed partly in black and white, with the latter segment shot in vibrant digital video, the film demonstrates Godard’s interest in melding old and new cinematic techniques, once again questioning the very nature of cinema itself. The earlier half showcases the director’s use of shadows to evoke mood and shape character, while the second presents an almost dream-like world, where deep blue crashing waves and orange skies are used to suggest the protagonist’s state of mind.

As one would expect from a Godard film, In Praise of Love is filled with stylised conversations that explore humanity in great detail, dealing with society, world politics and above all beauty. In a particularly striking scene, shot from the inside of a car during rainfall, the protagonist muses on the end of a relationship: “It’s strange how things take on meaning when the story ends”. This line defines the film perfectly; it may not make complete narrative sense, but there will be much to reflect upon.

James Merchant