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IMDbPro

Breathless

Original title: À bout de souffle
  • 19601960
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
80K
YOUR RATING
Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
Original trailer with English subtitles
Play trailer2:03
3 Videos
70 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
A small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a motorcycle policeman. Wanted by the authorities, he reunites with a hip American journalism student and attempts to persuade her to ... Read allA small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a motorcycle policeman. Wanted by the authorities, he reunites with a hip American journalism student and attempts to persuade her to run away with him to Italy.A small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a motorcycle policeman. Wanted by the authorities, he reunites with a hip American journalism student and attempts to persuade her to run away with him to Italy.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
80K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jean-Luc Godard
  • Writers
    • François Truffaut(original scenario)
    • Jean-Luc Godard(screenplay)
    • Claude Chabrol(original scenario)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Paul Belmondo
    • Jean Seberg
    • Daniel Boulanger
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jean-Luc Godard
  • Writers
    • François Truffaut(original scenario)
    • Jean-Luc Godard(screenplay)
    • Claude Chabrol(original scenario)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Paul Belmondo
    • Jean Seberg
    • Daniel Boulanger
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 237User reviews
    • 211Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 4 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos3

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 2:03
    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Breathless: The Criterion Collection
    Trailer 1:34
    Breathless: The Criterion Collection
    Breathless - Rialto Pictures Trailer
    Trailer 1:22
    Breathless - Rialto Pictures Trailer

    Photos70

    Raoul Coutard in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Breathless (1960)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean-Paul Belmondo
    Jean-Paul Belmondo
    • Michel Poiccard a.k.a. Laszlo Kovacsas Michel Poiccard a.k.a. Laszlo Kovacs
    Jean Seberg
    Jean Seberg
    • Patricia Franchinias Patricia Franchini
    Daniel Boulanger
    • Police Inspector Vitalas Police Inspector Vital
    Henri-Jacques Huet
    • Antonio Berruttias Antonio Berrutti
    Roger Hanin
    Roger Hanin
    • Carl Zubartas Carl Zubart
    Van Doude
    Van Doude
    • Selfas Self
    Claude Mansard
    • Claudius Mansardas Claudius Mansard
    Liliane Dreyfus
    • Lilianeas Liliane
    • (as Liliane David)
    • …
    Michel Fabre
    • Police Inspector #2as Police Inspector #2
    Jean-Pierre Melville
    Jean-Pierre Melville
    • Parvulesco the Writeras Parvulesco the Writer
    Jean-Luc Godard
    Jean-Luc Godard
    • The Snitchas The Snitch
    Richard Balducci
    • Tolmatchoffas Tolmatchoff
    André S. Labarthe
    • Journalist at Orlyas Journalist at Orly
    François Moreuil
    • Journalist at Orlyas Journalist at Orly
    Jacques Lourcelles
      Liliane Robin
      • Minoucheas Minouche
      Gérard Brach
      • Photographeras Photographer
      • (uncredited)
      Philippe de Broca
      Philippe de Broca
      • A Journalistas A Journalist
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Jean-Luc Godard
      • Writers
        • François Truffaut(original scenario)
        • Jean-Luc Godard(screenplay) (uncredited)
        • Claude Chabrol(original scenario) (uncredited)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        According to Jean-Pierre Melville, Godard asked him for consultation during the post-production stage, because the first edit was too long for distribution. Melville suggested Godard remove all scenes that slowed down the action (his own turn as novelist Parvulesco included). Instead of excluding entire scenes, though, Godard cut little bits from here and there. This led to the "jump cut" technique this movie introduced. Melville declared the result to be excellent.
      • Goofs
        During street shots, countless passersby look at Patricia and Michel and stare into the camera, revealing that the shots were made without filming barriers and simply used street pedestrians in place of extras.
      • Quotes

        Patricia Franchini: What is your greatest ambition in life?

        Parvulesco: To become immortal... and then die.

      • Connections
        Edited into Origins of the 21st Century (2000)

      User reviews237

      Review
      Top review
      In's not like this in movies
      Jean-Luc Godard's, A Bout de Souffle is possibly the brightest star to shine from the French New Wave. The 'Nouvelle Vague' came about from a group of like minded film critics writing for the Cahiers du Cinema.

      With his knowledge of classic film narrative and style Godard went out to create his own film in homage to, and also complete contradiction to, classic Hollywood film.

      The plot reads almost like a crime thriller typical of the 1930-40's. A criminal on the run from the police; the distraction of a beautiful woman; the escape and eventually someones death. But it is in Godard's approach to film style and use of new technologies that the typical crime thriller was turned on its head.

      In a break from classic Hollywood narrative the film opens with little equilibrium. Our protagonist's motives are unclear as he tears off to Paris leaving a woman and a dead cop in his trail. This in turn makes the ending somewhat open ended. With no sense of equilibrium to start with how can there be closure on what has happened throughout the film.

      Another twist on the classic storytelling in film is the progression of plot. It is naturally assumed in classic Hollywood film, that everything the spectator sees they see for a reason. With Michel's constantly pointless phone calls to retrieve owed money the plot is not pushed along at all. The inclusion of a 25 minute digression from the plot stands to emphasise the spectators reliance on narrative structure in the watching of films. Although watching the film closely is, as always, important in following the story A Bout de Souffle requires that little bit extra to define where the plot is being progressed and where Michel or Patricia are just flattering their egos or each other.

      All in all I personally think that A Bout de Souffle brought about a sense of realism not seen in Hollywood cinema before 1959 and even now. The fact that life isn't full of clues that will help us progress in say our relationships or escape from authority, but is infact full of digression; self exploration; and the confusions of love, ego and aspirations.
      helpful•116
      23
      • rjanderson79
      • Dec 11, 2001

      FAQ5

      • What is the significance of Michel rubbing his lips with his thumb?
      • What does Michel say at the end of the movie?
      • What is the movie playing in the theater when Michel and Patricia are trying to escape from the detectives?

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • February 7, 1961 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • France
      • Languages
        • French
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Ausser Atem
      • Filming locations
        • 11 rue Campagne Première, Paris 14, Paris, France
      • Production companies
        • Les Films Impéria
        • Les Productions Georges de Beauregard
        • Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • FRF 400,000 (estimated)
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $414,173
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $32,424
        • May 30, 2010
      • Gross worldwide
        • $593,302
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 30 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.33 : 1

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