Review of Jules and Jim (1962) by Mitch P — 20 Oct 2007
This is one of the gems of the French New Wave. Traffaut crafts a delightful portrait of enduring friendship and love. Even in handling such heavy topics as infidelity, separation, and death, Traffaut brings a sense of pristine nostalgia to his film that keeps it from veering into tragedy.
Scholars and critics can fill volumes with the details of how this film was groundbreaking in its cinematography, editing, acting, and mis-en-scene. For me, what matters most is wonderful story that Truffaut tells.
Three characters: two different yet perfectly complimentary best friends, and an inscrutable and passionate woman that they both love - and yet neither can understand. All of it is adoringly told in a whip-fast distillation of twenty five years into an hour and forty-five minutes.
Traffaut doesn't judge or explain the actions of his characters; he only loves them. And so do I.
This review of Jules and Jim (1962) was written by Mitch P on 20 Oct 2007.
Jules and Jim has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
