Series & Events
Vivre Sa Vie
Godard’s poetic treatment of one woman’s slide into the oldest profession in the world stars his then-wife (and muse), the enigmatically lovely Anna Karina. The film opens with a quote by Montaigne: “Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.” Told in 12 sections, the film charts the attempt by Nana (Karina) to do just that. Nana leaves her husband and child with a vague notion of becoming an actress. In one of the film’s most remarkable moments, Raoul Coutard’s lustrous black-and-white camera captures Karina’s rapt, tear-stained identification with Maria Falconetti’s transcendent performance in Carl Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc. But Nana drifts into prostitution instead. Godard’s treatment of the theme is almost case-study objective, but he manages something very intimate and heartfelt here. “The camera by its discipline discourages us from interpreting Nana’s life in a melodramatic way … Curious, then, how moving Anna Karina makes Nana. She waits, she drinks, she smokes, she walks the streets, she makes some money, she turns herself over to the first pimp she meets, she gives up control of her life … The effect is astonishing. It is clear, astringent, unsentimental, and abrupt. Then it is over. It was her life to live.” —Roger Ebert Beautiful new 35mm print!
“A perfect film! One of the most extraordinary, beautiful, and original works of art that I know of.” —Susan Sontag
Cast & Crew
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
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