La Pointe Courte (1954)

About La Pointe Courte

Directed by Agnes Varda, 'La Pointe Courte' is an influential French New Wave cinema piece released in 1954. The film interweaves two different storylines: the daily life of fishermen in the French village, La Pointe Courte, and the strained relationship between a young couple. Varda's portrayal of the couple's emotional distancing against the backdrop of the fishing village's struggles marked a divergence from the traditional cinematic narratives of that time

Making / Production

'La Pointe Courte' was Agnes Varda's directorial debut. Made on a shoestring budget, Varda ingeniously borrowed a camera, used her friends as the crew and the villagers of La Pointe Courte as cast members. Despite not having any formal education in filmmaking, Varda deftly employed elements of Italian neorealism and documentary-style storytelling in her film.

Actors

• Silvia Monfort (Elle): Monfort's portrayal of the doting yet distant wife added depth to the emotionally complex woman feeling torn down by her marriage.
• Philippe Noiret (Lui): Noiret brilliantly plays the part of the husband who strives to keep his marriage afloat while battling his own insecurities.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "La Pointe Courte" is often considered the first film of the French New Wave cinema but it was overlooked during its time of release.
• Unlike the other French New Wave directors, Agnes Varda did not have a background in filmmaking or criticism.

Quotes

• "It's odd how even when two people are close they can conceal things from each other."
• "Why decide why love disappears? Why does it matter?"

Music, Soundtrack

• Pierre Barbaud contributed a riveting music score to the film which accentuated emotional tension and the simple life in the village.
• The use of natural ambient sound in certain sequences brought a documentary style realism to the movie.