My Life to Live
1962
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
We are getting closer and closer to the 400 milestone! I know 6 is a weird time to start a countdown…but screw it, start the countdown!
This is the story of Nana (does every woman named Nana have to be a prostitute? Cross that off the baby name list) who decides to leave her husband and son to become an actress. Her plans go awry and she ends up being a hooker. So it goes.
I love a good story when someone who lives a completely ordinary existence comes completely out of their shell. Of course, there are the Disney versions of that story and The Purple Rose of Cairo versions of those stories. This one falls into the more unfortunate category and it is actually quite sad.
Well, I should say that it is meant to be sad. It was hard for me to feel anything but contempt for the selfish Nana who leaves her infant son without a mother because she did not plan her life better. Bitch.
I have my usual complaint here with Godard; he just is not great at keeping me entertained, even if he has a good story. I was bored for a lot of this movie and even the action packed ending had me yawning.
Overall, I could have skipped this one but we have certainly seen worse.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Divided into 12 "episodes".
Referenced in Pulp Fiction.
References The Searchers, The Hustler, Jules et Jim, and Spartacus.
Trailer:
Godard, always able to ruin a good story. I know even before starting that I am going to dislike it and I am always right. Always.
ReplyDeleteGodard, your archnemesis.
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