In a cinematic landscape often dominated by blockbusters and reboots, Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague stands out as a playful, poignant love letter to cinema. This film reimagines the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s groundbreaking Breathless, capturing the exuberant exploration of youthful rebellion and creative chaos that defined the French New Wave. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with director Richard Linklater and star Guillaume Marbeck—who makes his feature debut as Godard—for an insightful conversation about the film’s journey from idea to screen, the art of storytelling, and the risks inherent in filmmaking. We delved into the heart of what makes Nouvelle Vague a must-see for cinephiles and aspiring creators alike.
The interview kicked off with reflections on the film’s long road to realization. Linklater, known for his introspective works like Boyhood and the Before trilogy, described Nouvelle Vague as a celebration of “joyous creation.” “It’s definitely a long journey from conception to [completion],” he shared. “But it is a film that’s kind of about joyous creation, and it’s a film about film, and the film itself opens and closes in a movie theater… So it’s fun to finally be showing it to people.”
Marbeck, whose fresh-faced enthusiasm mirrors the young Godard’s spirit, echoed the sentiment of perseverance. As a newcomer to feature films, he admitted to initial doubts but emphasized the importance of pushing forward. When asked about advice for aspiring filmmakers, both offered wisdom drawn from their experiences. Marbeck urged, “Don’t be afraid. Do it because a lot of people don’t go do it. They have the idea, but they don’t go do it. Just go do it.” Linklater added, “Yeah, and fail. You got to risk. You got to be okay with failure… You just got to be having so much fun. Like, if everybody hated our movie, I’d still be okay with it because we had such a good time making it.”
Drawing on sports analogies, Linklater likened filmmaking to a high-stakes game. “Every film feels like a Hail Mary,” he explained, describing it as a desperate, long-shot pass in American football. Marbeck, drawing from his European perspective, compared it to a rare, miraculous goal in soccer. Linklater expanded: “But every film I think the analogy maybe more is jumping off a cliff. You get a bunch of people to jump off a cliff together. It’s just a leap of some kind of faith… or jump out of an airplane and build a parachute on the way down.”
The discussion turned to the film’s deeper layers, with Linklater hoping audiences would feel the “exciting” energy of the era. “It’s a film about making a film at a certain place in time. I think we want to make that look compelling,” he said. “Historically speaking, it’s a very influential. It’s a big moment in cinema history. But even beyond that, I hope it just looks exciting about the youthful energy that goes into making your first film.”
For Marbeck, stepping into Godard’s shoes was a transformative experience, especially as it marked his first major role. He recounted a pivotal moment on set: “For me, it’s it happened on the second day of shooting. The first day, I thought they would fire me because it was my my first movie, and I felt like I fucked up, but it ended up that they didn’t fire me. But on the second day, I looked at the mirror and I understood that they chose me, and there was nobody to replace me… So I had to do it. And there was no place anymore for doubting.”
Linklater praised the collaborative, forgiving nature of the arts: “It’s so process oriented. I just always think, okay, we’ll get there… Unlike sports, you do get another take… It’s all about seeking its own perfection.”
As the conversation wrapped, both encouraged embracing the weird and letting passion override insecurities. Nouvelle Vague isn’t just a historical recreation—it’s a reminder of why we fall in love with movies in the first place. Whether you’re a film buff or simply inspired by stories of creative daring, this film demands to be seen on the big screen. Catch it in theaters now, and let it reignite your own artistic spark.
