Anyone who watches "Breathless" for the first time may wonder what all the fuss is about. Jean-Luc Godard's elegant romantic caper -- widely regarded as a seminal film and a primary player in the revolutionary French New Wave movement -- looks a lot like the movies, TV shows and even music videos we regularly watch today.
But of course, that's just further proof of its influence. What seems commonplace now looked stunningly fresh back in 1959, when this breezy Paris love story -- with its jarring jumpcuts, handheld camera work and documentary-style approach -- was released. A new high-definition version, found on the Criterion Collection's excellent two-disc set ($39.95) that arrives in stores today, retains that freshness. This DVD makes "Breathless" look, well, flawless. From the swirls of cigarette smoke that fill a cramped hotel room to the subtle curve of star Jean Seberg's eyeliner, the black-and-white details are so vivid that it seems possible to reach across a continent and back in time to touch them.
As has become standard for any DVD bearing the Criterion brand, the bonus features are abundant and enlightening. Among the highlights: A series of archival interviews with Godard and the film's stars; new interviews with cinematographer Raoul Coutard, assistant-director Pierre Rissient and documentarian (and Godard admirer) D.A. Pennebaker; a fascinating video essay about the tragic life of Seberg; "Charlotte et son Jules," a short film Godard made pre-"Breathless"; and an 80-minute, 1993 French television documentary, "Chambre 12, Hotel de Suede," in which TV host Claude Ventura tracks down the real story behind the movie.
Godard's contempt for his own success emerges throughout the extras. The renowned director says of "Breathless" during an interview at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival: "I feel like I love cinema less than I did a year ago, simply because I made a popular film." And when Ventura calls Godard to ask if he will discuss the movie, the renowned filmmaker hangs up on him. Presumably, Godard won't exactly be thrilled to see attention again heaped upon a movie he seems to regard as marginal. But everyone else might just love -- or at least appreciate -- cinema more by watching it.
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