Breathless

À bout de souffle

Jean-Paul Belmondo’s cop killer-on-the-run turns to Jean Seberg’s young American for help in Godard’s landmark film.

  • Director

    Jean-Luc Godard

  • With

    Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Daniel Boulanger

  • France 1960. 90min

  • Digital 4K

  • Certificate

    12A

  • English subtitles

Michel is a young, suave criminal who styles himself on Humphrey Bogart. When he attempts to steal a car, he impulsively commits a more serious crime and goes on the run. He flees to Paris, where he tries to persuade Patricia, an American journalism student he is infatuated with, to escape to Italy with him. Godard’s debut feature, a chaotic, anarchic romance wrapped in an exciting sense of danger, challenged conventions of cinematic grammar and style, and helped forge a revolutionary wave in film. Bursting with youthful energy, wit and invention, Breathless still feels as radically fresh as it did on arrival.

Kimberley Sheehan, Lead Programmer

See our Seniors’ Free Matinee of Bonjour Tristesse on Monday 12 January.