Masculin Feminin - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia

Masculin f minin 1966 trailer

Paul (Jean-Pierre Leaud), a young idealist trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life, takes a job interviewing people for a marketing research firm. He moves in with aspiring pop singer Madeleine (Chantal Goya), and their affair often involves her two sexy roommates. Paul, however, is disillusioned by the growing commercialism in society, while Madeleine just wants to be successful. The story is told in a series of 15 unrelated vignettes.

Masculin Feminin is a notable film within Godards 1960s period of filmmaking, and is considered by critics as representative of 60s France and Paris. The film contains references to various pop culture icons and political figures around that time, such as Charles de Gaulle and Andre Malraux to James Bond and Bob Dylan, and follows Godards non-linear filmmaking techniques and narratives. The main story is at times interrupted by various sequences and sub-plots, including a scene paraphrased from LeRoi Jones’ Dutchman. Arguably the most famous quotation from the film is "This film could be called The Children of Marx and Coca-Cola", which is actually an intertitle between chapters.

The film stars French New Wave icon Jean-Pierre Léaud as Paul, a romantic young idealist and literary lion-wannabe who chases budding pop star, Madeleine (Chantal Goya, a real life Yé-yé girl).

Masculin f minin 15 faits pr cis trailer

Plot

The film stars Jean-Pierre Leaud as Paul, a romantic young idealist and literary lion-wannabe who chases budding pop star, Madeleine (Chantal Goya, a real life Ye-ye girl). Despite markedly different musical tastes and political leanings, the two soon become romantically involved and begin a menage a quatre with Madeleines two roommates, Catherine (Catherine-Isabelle Duport) and Elisabeth (Marlene Jobert). The camera probes the young actors in a series of verite-style interviews about love, love-making, and politics.

Cast

Jean-Pierre Leaud as Paul, a young idealist

Chantal Goya as Madeleine Zimmer, a young singer

Marlene Jobert as Elisabeth Choquet, Madeleines roommate

Michel Debord as Robert Packard, a journalist

Catherine-Isabelle Duport as Catherine-Isabelle

Brigitte Bardot as herself (cameo)

Antoine Bourseiller as himself (cameo)

Background

In 1965 Anatole Dauman, the head of Argos Films, wanted to re-edit and re-release Alexandre Astrucs 1952 44 minute film The Crimson Curtain. He decided that he also wanted another medium length film to accompany Astrucs film and offered the project to Godard, suggesting that Godard adapt Guy de Maupassants short story The Signal. Godard had been interested in filming The Signal for several years and agreed to the project. Eventually Dauman suggested that Godard also adapt Maupassants short story Pauls Mistress and secured the rights to both short stories. When filming began, Godard discarded both Maupassant short stories and Maupassants publishers later agreed that the film was in no way an adaptation of the authors work. The only parts of either short stories that appear in the film is the fact that the main characters name is Paul and the "film within the film" that the main characters go to see at a movie theater was initially inspired by "The Signal".

Godard did not have a shooting script and instead relied on a hand written spiral notebook filled with ideas, sketches and dialogue written the night before. Godard was interested in working with singer Chantal Goya because she was neither a film or stage actress and was introduced to her by Daniel Filipacchi on November 7, 1965. Shooting began on November 22, 1965. Godard used natural lighting and a minimal crew throughout the production.

Reception

Masculin, feminin movie scenes Masculin F minin has a pristine look that is sharp and precise a result of Godard s use of natural lighting in most scenes The use of black and white helps

Due to the portrayal of youth and sex, the film was prohibited to persons under 18 in France — "the very audience it was meant for," griped Godard.

Reviews were mixed in both France and in the U.S. Georges Sadoul praised the films ability to speak to young people, while H. Chapier criticized the film but praised Leauds performance. Tom Milne called it Godards "most complex film to date." Pauline Kael said that it was "that rare achievement: a work of grace and beauty in a contemporary setting." Andrew Sarris called it "the film of the season." Judith Crist said that it had "flashes of original wit and contemporary perceptions." Bosley Crowther disliked the film and called it "entertainment of only the most loose and spotty sort." Gene Moskowitz called it "naive and knowing, irratating and engaging."

Awards

Jean-Pierre Leaud won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 16th Berlin International Film Festival.

At the Berlin Film Festival the film won an award for the years best film for young people.

References

Masculin Feminin Wikipedia

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