Jean-Luc Godard one of the pioneers of the 1960’s French New Wave Cinema passes away at 91 at home on Tuesday. He began his career as a film critic and later turned to filmmaker. His influence is hard to underestimate.
Godard rewrote the rules of film in his gangster romance ‘Breathless’(1960) shooting on the streets of Paris and it is his first feature-length work which attracts much attention from the audience for its bold visual.
Godard blew up the conventions and stripped down cinema to is essence. The director produced a number of iconic works including ‘A Woman is a Woman’(1961) ‘Tout Va Bien’(1972) ‘Every Man for Himself’(1980) ‘Contempt’ all made him a celebrated filmmaker.
Godard family in a statement said “ Film director Godard died peacefully at home.” No official ceremony will take place and his cremation must happen in private” they added.
Quentin Tarantino hailed the director’s association with French New Wave cinema as “Godard was to movies what Bob Dylan was to music.” Tarantino also once said that “Godard was so influential to him as a director.”
French President Emmanuel Macron mourned the loss of Godard “the most iconoclastic of New Wave Filmmakers who had invented a resolutely modern, intensely free art. We have lost a national treasure, a genius.”
Godard’s work brought a new verve to French cinema. His departure marks end of the history of cinema in many senses.
