About Weekend

Weekend, a French subversive comedy film, was directed by Jean-Luc Godard and released in 1967. The narrative follows the surreal journey of a bourgeois married couple, Corinne and Roland, who go on a chaotic road trip across the French countryside. The theatrical metaphor for the fall of bourgeois society is filled with dark humor, violence, random conversations about consumerism, and sprinkles of philosophical dialogue.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Les Films Copernic and shot on 35mm film by cinematographer Raoul Coutard. Godard's fast-paced, chaotic style is notable in Weekend. He used long and continuous tracking shots that reflect the absurdity of the characters' journey and amplify the sense of chaos.

Actors

• Mireille Darc: Corinne Durand, known for her passage from a confused woman to a cannibalistic survivalist.
• Jean Yanne: Roland Durand, reflects a brusque bourgeois character enroute his bizarre road trip.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Longest Take: Weekend includes a tracking shot that lasts over 7 minutes and covers almost a mile of highway.
• A Critique of Consumerism: The movie’s violent and bizarre journey is seen as a metaphorical depiction of the destructive consumerist culture.
• Final Title Card: The film ends with a title card reading "End of Cinema", referring to the dramatic change in the French Cinema that the film brought.

Quotes

• "What a rotten film, all we meet are crazy people."
• "Corinne. I love you. No, it's a movie! You must say it without laughing!"

Music, Soundtrack

• The chaotic and avant-garde soundtrack of the movie was composed by Antoine Duhamel, and Paul Gégauff.
• Noteworthy is the use of variations on Beethoven’s symphony in the score