Redoubtable is a sporadically amusing, but never touching, story of the legendary Godard as seen, more or less, through the eyes of his young wife, Anne Wiazemsky. His Chinese movie, starring Anne, has been repudiated, by the Chinese. At a loss, Godard marches with the angry students of 1968, declaring that the revolution is all and his previous movies are all merde! The young Anne follows along, dutifully, affectionately, but with growing alienation. She, obviously, wants to live, and her husband wants to sulk, and get his glasses broken time after time.
It's surprising how engaging this movie is, even if you still haven't gotten around to watching À bout de souffle (1960), Godard, who was still alive at the time, is presented as a comic character, a pretentious pseudo-intellectual (or just an intellectual, they're all pseudo, aren't they?). Anne is presumably meant to represent us, today. Louis Garrel and Stacy Martin play the roles successfully, but I couldn't help wondering, given Godard's fame, if the portrait wasn't a bit harsh.
The movie is occasionally very funny, but in a very knowing sort of way, which I suppose indicates that the entertainment will wear out fast, much like life with Godard. But the movie is elegantly made and energetic for all the pouting, and it doesn't wear out its welcome.
Enjoyable existential crisis.
It's surprising how engaging this movie is, even if you still haven't gotten around to watching À bout de souffle (1960), Godard, who was still alive at the time, is presented as a comic character, a pretentious pseudo-intellectual (or just an intellectual, they're all pseudo, aren't they?). Anne is presumably meant to represent us, today. Louis Garrel and Stacy Martin play the roles successfully, but I couldn't help wondering, given Godard's fame, if the portrait wasn't a bit harsh.
The movie is occasionally very funny, but in a very knowing sort of way, which I suppose indicates that the entertainment will wear out fast, much like life with Godard. But the movie is elegantly made and energetic for all the pouting, and it doesn't wear out its welcome.
Enjoyable existential crisis.