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Nouvelle Vague

Play trailer 1:55 Poster for Nouvelle Vague R Now Playing 1h 46m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 189 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
This is the story of Godard making "Breathless", told in the style and spirit in which Godard made "Breathless".
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Nouvelle Vague

Nouvelle Vague

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Critics Consensus

Seamlessly recreating one of cinema's most groundbreaking productions, Nouvelle Vague doesn't reinvent the medium the way its subjects did, but it pays tribute to their accomplishment with infectious admiration.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 3h
Nouvelle Vague is more than just an in-joke for cineastes -- it’s an invitation to make something alive and radical that pisses off the right people. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube) 3h
I really enjoyed it. Go to Full Review
Nick Howells London Evening Standard 3d
4/5
This is a light-touch love letter from Linklater and so focuses on the greatest hits from a story that’s far more complex. Go to Full Review
Alistair Harkness Scotsman 1h
4/5
As infuriating as Godard no doubt was, though, Linklater...treats the making of Breathless as the joyful pursuit of art for art’s sake. It’s a joy that infuses every frame of Nouvelle Vague. Go to Full Review
Helen Hawkins The Arts Desk 2d
4/5
This isn’t pastiche, it’s an academically sound love letter to the nouvelle vague and all who sustained it. Go to Full Review
Jack Martin Film Feeder 3d
4/5
Like Godard’s original masterpiece, the film has a nice zest of life to it that Linklater is able to replicate without feeling too postmodern or even critical of the process that would go on to inspire countless other filmmakers such as himself. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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t W Nov 13 Lots of fun, breezy. Wished there was a tad bit more drama though. See more Carlos F Nov 8 Beautiful depiction of 1960’s Paris, the interesting and determined personalities in the world of film, and their effect on society at a time when people were more intelectually engaged, more curious, more aware, less self-centered in the toxic way we are today… Also, I loved getting a window into the production of Godard’s “Breathless” and his artistic influences at the time Make sure you are well rested and relaxed, because the subtitles are easy to read and properly timed, but there is so much dialogue in French, that often you won’t be able to finish reading one line before the next one comes… don’t let that frustrate you, because the characters are so rich and the situations so endearing that you’re still able to follow the plot and thoroughly enjoy the movie See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch 2d Nouvelle Vague, released in 2025 on Netflix, is a black-and-white film that leans heavily on artistic style over narrative clarity. While the monochrome cinematography is visually striking and gives the film a classic, nostalgic feel, the story is dialogue-heavy, fully in another language, and demands constant reading of subtitles, which makes watching slow, taxing, and less engaging. The plot itself is inconsistent and disjointed, often leaving viewers confused or disengaged. Critics may admire its homage to old-school cinema, but it struggles to connect with modern audiences who expect more accessibility. Overall, the film is moderately interesting, more of a study piece than an enjoyable watch, and it isn’t rewatchable. See more jon m @MezzMezz Jan 25 Amazing! Linklater has captured the era and the spirit of the movement in a way that will blow your mind! You can't get enough of it! See more Alfredo S. @alsuarez Jan 23 Richard Linklater entendió cómo se sentía la Nueva Ola y así fue como nos la transmitió con un casting espectacular y un sentimiento de cine del más puro que hay. See more Zach W. @zwreviews Jan 19 “One is always alone. On the set, as before the blank page. To be alone means to ask questions. To make films means to answer them.” Though my experience with French New Wave cinema is extremely limited, Nouvelle Vague presents a charmingly intimate glimpse into the filmmaking of Jean-Luc Godard. While I have never seen any Godard film including Breathless, I am still able to appreciate Nouvelle Vague because of Richard Linklater’s effortless style and meandering style of storytelling. Nouvelle Vague feels like a time capsule of the film’s setting as Linklater utilizes black and white film to embody the era. The cast are compelling though none of the performances truly blew me away. Nouvelle Vague is clearly one of those films that’s made for other film lovers to enjoy because the content and story of Nouvelle Vague feels rather plotless at times. Linklater tells the story of how Breathless was made and the audience gets to feel privy to the filmmaking process of Godard. Overall, Nouvelle Vague is far from my favorite Linklater film but there is something rather impressive about Linklater’s ability to create films of different genres. Though Godard and French New Wave cinema is not something I am familiar with, I still enjoyed Nouvelle Vague and it certainly makes me want to watch Breathless. See more Read all reviews
Nouvelle Vague

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Movie Info

Synopsis This is the story of Godard making "Breathless", told in the style and spirit in which Godard made "Breathless".
Director
Richard Linklater
Producer
Michele Halberstadt, Laurent Pétin, Michèle Pétin
Screenwriter
Vincent Palmo Jr., Michele Halberstadt, Laetitia Masson, Holly Gent
Distributor
Netflix
Production Co
ARP Sélection SAS
Rating
R (Some Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 31, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 14, 2025
Runtime
1h 46m
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