by Joseph Davis, Contributing Writer
One area of film history that I’m not the most familiar with is the French New Wave movement. Prior to deciding on Masculin Féminin for this month’s entry into Out of Market, I couldn’t have told you for sure exactly what French New Wave cinema even was. Reading on the movement itself, the desire of filmmakers to buck the normal trends of filmmaking and to express it in a new way intrigued me. The fact that it’s also one of the more influential movements in film history makes it even more something worth diving into and giving a chance. So, this month I decided to look into this film, one whose title I’m sure I cannot pronounce without fellow SiftPop writer and resident Dutchman Chris getting a good laugh at the poor attempt, as I once more wish my high school offered more than just Spanish for foreign language.
Probably the part of the film that most intrigues me is the setting itself. Set in 1960s Paris, it feels as if you get a cross section of society and politics of the day. In terms of technology, services, and society, this movie almost feels like social commentary. You see the effects of American superstars like Bob Dylan and Marilyn Monroe on culture as our female lead (Chantal Goya) tries to break into the music industry, while our male lead (Jean-Pierre Léaud) plays an idealist, who at times feels as if he’s not sure himself what he wants. In a series of vignettes we get to see their lives unfold as they grow together, and move in together, with discussions of life and politics mixed into the story. Coupled with how this story is constructed, you’re given a different path of character building as you go through this movie and how our leads and supporting cast come to view each other as time goes on. While there is some language being used that is a bit triggering (and one scene where the cast is watching a movie that hits weirdly), overall this movie is not afraid to throw punches with its supporting cast, and even its main cast, in ways you don’t fully expect.
One thought on how this film is made that really hits me is how it feels as if it is providing social commentary for the day. With topics such as socialism, then-president Charles de Gaulle, and the Vietnam war, you really get a cross section of the way the world was from the average Frenchman’s perspective. From calls against the war in Vietnam, to our lead characters discussing politics, and even in some cases posting and stating their political statements, the film feels more accurate, as if you can believe that the main characters actually believe what they are stating and discussing. The style of a New Wave film even seems to give an impression of not only authenticity to the characters, but a chance of artistic expression by the filmmakers. Between each vignette are intertitles that add to this social commentary, including some that could be commentary on the film being made itself. Both of these make this film something interesting to watch, and an eye-opening experience.
Overall, I’d largely recommend Masculin Féminin to someone here in the States who is looking for an artistic experience, for a film that’s willing to step out of its own comfort zone and try something different in storytelling. I’m not sure myself if this type of filmmaking is in my wheelhouse, but I can see what it is aiming to do and how it’s doing it, and I greatly appreciate it for this. All films have a message of some kind to share, be it informative or as commentary, and sometimes the message is one of artistic expression. For this one, the artistic expression by the filmmakers is clear, and I’d definitely say I’m better off for watching it.
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