Jean-Luc Godard

Jean-Luc Godard (3 December 1930 – 13 September 2022) was a highly influential French-Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic. He first rose to prominence as a pioneer of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s, where he was known for his experimentation with narrative, continuity, sound, and cinematography. Some of his most renowned films include Breathless (1960), Vivre sa vie (1962), Contempt (1963), Band of Outsiders (1964), Alphaville (1965), Pierrot le Fou (1965), Masculin Féminin (1966), and Goodbye to Language (2014). His critical writing for the magazine Cahiers du Cinéma and experimental filmmaking have led to him being credited with redefining the conventions of traditional Hollywood and French cinema.

Even amidst controversies, Godard remained a prominent figure in the film industry, constantly pushing the boundaries of cinema and challenging perceptions. Akin to a philosopher in cinema, he often used his films to express political views and his in-depth understanding of human nature. He was married to actresses Anna Karina and Anne Wiazemsky, both of whom played significant roles in his films. His latter collaborations with Anne-Marie Miéville were considered the most influential body of work in the history of cinema. Despite the complexities of his personal life and political ideologies, Godard's unique vision and innovation in the field of cinema helped him to create a significant body of critically acclaimed work.