How a 1961 French New Wave comedy redefined the cinematic musical through playful rebellion
In short: Jean-Luc Godard’s 1961 film A Woman Is a Woman is a vibrant, experimental tribute to the American musical comedy. Starring Anna Karina, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Jean-Claude Brialy, this colorful feature captures a couple’s domestic friction, turning a simple argument about starting a family into a witty, meta-cinematic exploration of identity.
Released in 1961, A Woman Is a Woman marked a significant technical milestone for director Jean-Luc Godard. It was his third feature film, though it reached audiences before his second, Le petit soldat, which faced delays due to censorship. This production served as Godard’s first foray into both color cinematography and the expansive anamorphic widescreen format, signaling his evolving ambition within the French New Wave movement.
The narrative follows Angéla, an exotic dancer, and her lover, Émile. Their central conflict arises from Angéla’s desire to have a child, a request Émile stubbornly rejects. The film employs highly stylized, experimental techniques to depict their domestic discord; in one memorable sequence, the couple stops speaking entirely, instead conducting their bitter argument by pulling books from a shelf and pointing to the titles. This playful, self-aware approach to storytelling is a hallmark of the film’s tribute to the conventions of American musical comedies.
As the tension escalates, Angéla turns to Émile’s best friend, Alfred, who has been pursuing her. Her decision to sleep with Alfred is a calculated move to secure her goal of motherhood. Following a reconciliation with Émile, the film concludes with a moment of wordplay that provides its title: after Émile calls her horrid, Angéla retorts that she is simply a woman. The film’s artistic impact was recognized at the time, earning the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Anna Karina and the Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize, solidifying its place as a quintessential piece of 1960s experimental cinema.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A Woman Is a Woman
- Also: Wikidata — A Woman Is a Woman · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — A Woman Is a Woman · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-a-woman-is-a-woman.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
