DVD PICK
Movie: Le Petit Soldat (The Little Soldier)
Cast: Michel Subor, Anna Karina
Jean Luc Godard, the French auteur of new wave films (along with Francois Truffaut), always has his own way of making films. His introduction of jump cuts of editing, in his debut masterpiece “Breathless (1960)” was a revelation.
“Le Petit Soldat” by Godard, is not as self aware as his “Breathless”, but duly nurtures itself with its crucial pretention-less Godardish cinematic wisdom.
Plot
“Le Petit Soldat” follows Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor) as a young French secret agent in Geneva and his love Veronica Dreyer (played by Godard's often cast, extraordinary Anna Karina).
This little soldier of Godard gets trapped between two sides during the Algerian War. The real crisis begins, when suspicion on Bruno surfaces, given that his girlfriend belongs to the left radical group. They suspect him of being a double agent.
New wave noir
This French film could've been a political thriller, filmed on a large scale, but Godard takes it to a more personal and delicate plane. He thoughtfully moves on with the film's focus on the protagonist's personality features and his morals. Artistically amazing, “Le Petit Soldat” is not an effortless watch for the popcorn film audience.
The cinematography is handheld all over, as in any Godard's venture. It subtly touches the torturous moods and fears of the terrorists, which is where Godard punches his mark, as one of the very best, new wave filmmaker.
The movie doesn't get too political at any point and Godard's obsession with automobiles in many scenes, is vastly evident.
The black and white cinematography startles under the lively direction of Jean Luc Godard.
The movie also marks an indication of ruthless crimes, starting from individual level.
The performances of the leads are very natural and realistic (the director's trademark). There is a scene where Bruno gets tortured in the bathroom of a lone dark flat; and another one with photographs of the previous victims, shared unsympathetically.
It's quite simply, the example of how dark, funny, thrilling, yet artistic and visionary Godard can be.
The quintessence of the movie lies in the heart of the protagonists and significance given to the attitude of the subject. I would consider this a must watch for anyone, who is in look for an academic new wave film and for others, it's a must-learn.
Srivathsa Subramanian Sivakumar, working with Mahindra Satyam.
