How Richard Linklater Recreated the Chaotic Birth of the French New Wave
In short: Richard Linklater’s 2025 film Nouvelle Vague captures the frantic, improvised production of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless. Filmed in black and white with an authentic 1.37:1 aspect ratio, the movie explores the creative friction and spontaneous genius that defined a movement, turning a legendary cinematic origin story into a modern awards contender.
Nouvelle Vague chronicles the 1959 origins of the French New Wave, focusing on Jean-Luc Godard’s transition from a critic at Cahiers du Cinéma to a director. Inspired by the success of François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows, Godard set out to film Breathless, a project defined by his disregard for traditional continuity, constant script rewrites, and a guerilla filmmaking style that left his cast—including Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo—frequently bewildered.
The 2025 production, directed by Linklater, mirrors this commitment to authenticity. Shot entirely in French by David Chambille on 35 mm film, the production utilized digital effects in post-production to replicate the worn look of an archival print. Filming took place in Paris over 23 days between March and April 2024. The film’s release strategy was equally notable; after a world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received an 11-minute standing ovation, Netflix secured U.S. distribution rights for $4 million.
The film has garnered significant critical acclaim, holding a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Linklater’s work earned him the distinction of becoming the second American filmmaker to win Best Director at the 51st César Awards. While the film pays tribute to the groundbreaking nature of Godard’s original production, it also serves as a historical reflection on the lives of its subjects, including the tragic end of Seberg and the enduring, six-decade career of Godard himself.
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