Nouvelle Vague (2025)
Film · Comedy, Drama, History
Stream it, ifif you cherish the history of cinema and enjoy witty, dialogue-heavy explorations of the creative process.
A witty, talkative, and stylistically reverent dive into the birth of the French New Wave that feels like a meta-commentary on cinema itself. It is specifically for cinephiles who want to see the creative chaos behind a masterpiece, though its niche subject matter might alienate casual viewers.
What it is about
After writing for Cahiers du cinéma, young Godard decides making films is the best film criticism. He gets Beauregard to fund a low-budget feature, creating a treatment with Truffaut about a gangster couple.
Trailer
What Nouvelle Vague is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Linklater adopts a brisk, conversational, and stylistically playful tone that mirrors the revolutionary energy of its subjects. The pacing is lively, driven by rapid-fire intellectual debate and the frantic, improvised nature of independent production. It feels less like a stiff period piece and more like a vibrant, meta-textual reimagining of 1950s Paris, capturing the intellectual arrogance and infectious excitement of artists who genuinely believe they are changing the world.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is essential viewing for anyone who has ever obsessed over the Cahiers du cinéma era or the origins of modern independent film. It rewards those who appreciate film-about-film storytelling and Linklater's signature talkative style. However, those looking for a traditional narrative arc or broad comedy may find it self-indulgent. The primary caveat is its heavy reliance on the viewer's prior knowledge; without it, the inside jokes and historical cameos may feel opaque.
The right evening for it
It suits an evening spent with a sharp mind and a keen interest in artistic revolution, ideal for a post-screening discussion. This is a film for the curious and the culturally inclined.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Another trailer
Trailer · Official Trailer [Subtitled]
How Nouvelle Vague leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
Likely to leave you feeling intellectually stimulated and nostalgic for the grit of celluloid. Expect to come away with a renewed appreciation for the audacity required to break established artistic rules.
How Nouvelle Vague ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
After twenty-three days of filming, Godard concludes production and begins post-production, where he orders editor Cécile Decugis to use jump cuts despite her objections. Godard eventually screens the completed film, Breathless, for Truffaut, Chabrol, Schiffman, and Beauregard. Although they initially joke that the film is terrible, they soon give Godard a round of applause.
The film’s closing epilogue states that Breathless became one of the most influential films ever made and turned Belmondo into an international star. The titles further note that Seberg appeared in thirty-five films before dying at age forty, while Godard's career as a filmmaker continued for more than sixty years.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
Living in Oblivion (1995)
the chaotic, meta reality of independent filmmaking
Ed Wood (1994)
the infectious enthusiasm for making films against the odds
Mank (2020)
film · Authentic · IMDb 6.8 · In English, German and Latin
A dense, technically masterful tribute to Golden Age Hollywood that demands the viewer's full attention to its sharp dialogue and historical context. It is a sophisticated and dry watch, prioritizing intellectual engagement over emotional warmth.
a stylistically specific look at the intellectual friction behind a cinematic milestone
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More clips
Trailer · Trailer [Subtitled]
Featurette · Richard Linklater’s NOUVELLE VAGUE Manifesto (read by Zoey Deutch) - Full Special Feature
Featurette · Mark Kermode reviews Nouvelle Vague (2025) | BFI Player
Awards
Awards and nominationsShow
- Won: César Award for Best Director · Richard Linklater · 2026
- Won: César Award for Best Costume Design · 2026
From Wikidata, which can miss some.
Questions people ask
- Is Nouvelle Vague an authentic film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Authentic, with a funny streak. A witty, talkative, and stylistically reverent dive into the birth of the French New Wave that feels like a meta-commentary on cinema itself. It is specifically for cinephiles who want to see the creative chaos behind a masterpiece, though its niche subject matter might alienate casual viewers.
- How long is Nouvelle Vague?
- Nouvelle Vague runs 106 min and was released in 2025.
- Where can I watch Nouvelle Vague in the UK?
- In the UK, Nouvelle Vague is included with BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel.
- Is Nouvelle Vague worth watching?
- It depends: if you cherish the history of cinema and enjoy witty, dialogue-heavy explorations of the creative process. IMDb users rate it 7.3 out of 10 from 10,037 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 92%, Metacritic 76 and TMDB users 7.2.
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