THE MANY FACES OF A WOMAN TRYING TO FIND HERSELF IN A WORLD OF MEN.
Twentysomething Nana (Anna Karina) leaves her husband, hoping to have a career as an actress; one thing leads to another and she becomes a prostitute. One of Jean-Luc Godard’s most highly respected New Wave films is divided into 12 chapters and was inspired by both cinéma vérité and a contemporary study of prostitution in France. Reality frequently makes intrusions, as in a philosophical discussion that Nana has with an older man in a café; he’s played by Brice Parain, a tutor to Godard. Uneven for sure, but Karina shines in the lead, accompanied by Michel Legrand’s music.
1962-France. 85 min. B/W. Written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Music: Michel Legrand. Cast: Anna Karina (Nana Kleinfrankenheim), Sady Rebbot (Raoul), André S. Labarthe (Paul), Guylaine Schlumberger, Gérard Hoffman, Monique Messine.
Trivia: Original title: Vivre sa vie. Alternative title: It’s My Life.
Venice: Special Jury Prize.
