BFI Top 50: Histoire(s) du Cinema, released 1988-1998, directed by Jean-Luc Godard

 What I know going in

That the film is a huge video essay about film and the 20^th century in general.

 

Immediate reaction

The main stylistic trick of the film is Godard rapidly flicking back and forth between different images from films, paintings, porn, and the holocaust and he mutters inane, vague sayings about the history of cinema and the 20^th century. It’s a technique that becomes highly annoying after 4 minutes and totally unbearable after 4 hours. I’m not going to go so far as to say the images chosen are meaningless, but I will say that they are meaningless to anyone who isn’t Jean-Luc Godard. I’m sure other people can decode the insane amount of paintings, films, and historical figures that and determine what Godard is trying to say by juxtaposing, but seeing as I don’t have Ph.D. in art, film, or just general history, I found it impossible to get anything out of Godard’s esoteric approach and quickly check out of the film.

 

The other annoying is that Godard just rambles on and on in this boring monotone, frequently modulated by a purposeless digital echo, and makes vague, controversial statements about film history and politics and then refuses to back them up with any type of further explanation.

 

I honestly don’t know what else I can say about the film. I was expecting a more straightforward exploration of film history. I know it’s wrong to judge a film based on preconceived notions, but I expect to at least find something interesting about the film on its own merits. Instead of being enlightened about any subject of 20^th century life, I was treated to a 4 hour ramble that by the end felt like a joke played at the expense of a huge chunk of my own time.

 

Further thoughts

Plenty of the reviews I sifted through found meaning in Godard’s technique, which good for them, I’m glad someone can enjoy this film. However, they did solidify my initial thought that you need an insane knowledge of art history to eke out any sort of enjoyment from the film.

Why is the film on this list?

Basically so pretentious people can make themselves sound smart.