Review of Masculin Féminin (1966) by Jim H — 15 Mar 2011

And so begins my tour of Godard films ...

Of the five Godard films I've seen (and am going to see), this is the best, but that's not saying much. Normally, I begin my reviews with a sentence-long plot outline, but Godard is so entrenched in the post-structuralist disapproval of the typical story arc that it makes it difficult to render the film so simply. Rather, I think I can only report what I experienced while watching the film and hope it makes more sense than the film.

I think the film attempts to juxtapose the hedonistic tendency of the sixties against the decade's political turmoil. We see a flighty, apolitical pop song artist pursued by the politically aware but inactive Paul. He prioritizes his libido above his political concerns, but this can only last so long.

The film, in typical post-modern fashion, dives away from the plot into political rants that only tangentially connect to the main action.

Overall, Masculin Feminin is jumbled and often incoherent but ultimately rewarding.