Pierrot le fou : cult film for Godard and Belmondo
We think about it often Jean-Paul Belmondo for his action roles in which the actor indulged in crazy stunts. Action, but also comedy, as with The magnificent (1973), which caused Belmondo a serious injury. However, the actor has also proven himself in more dramatic roles, such as with Léon Morin, priest (1961). All his acting qualities motivated great directors to direct him, such as Jean-Luc Godard, who offered him three roles in feature films: Breathless (1960), A woman is a woman (1961) e Pierrot le fou (1965).
The latter is one of the cult films of the filmmaker and actor’s career. A work that has inspired many others (such as Excuse me, the first Maïwenn film that winks at the blue paint on Belmondo’s face). And marked by a famous phrase: “If you don’t like the sea, if you don’t like the mountains, if you don’t like the city… fuck you!“
However, upon its release, the reactions continue Pierrot le fou they were virulent. In it, Jean-Paul Bemondo plays Ferdinand Griffon, known as “Pierrot”, a married man who one day decides to leave everything behind after reuniting with an old friend, Marianne. (Anna Karin). The latter, wanted for murder, leave together by car towards the south of France with the aim of seeing the sea, which is followed by a romantic road trip tinged with violence. A violence that was later pointed out and limited the film’s access to the public.
A violence that is not going away at the moment
Indeed, as mentioned a CNC Summer Saga article dedicated to Pierrot le fouat the time, the censor board decided to reward the film prohibition for minors under 18 years of age. The members of the commission were shocked the amoral aspect of the film and its protagonists on the run. For one of these members, Pierrot the Fool was “a hymn to violenceto sensuality, to murder, without any moral compensation“. Furthermore, Jean-Luc Godard presents a “dull and oppressive society“in his film, what seemed to be”a direct criticism of Gallic France“did not pass before the commission.
In the file A challenge to the law? The controversies surrounding Pierrot le Fou by Jean-Luc GodardBoris Gobille analyzes this controversy surrounding the film, based on the press of the time, and confirms that it derives above all from this absence of “moral counterpart” and the aestheticization of violence. As the author writes, Pierrot le fou associates illegality with a form of freedom and sensuality and contrasts it with normality (having a job, a family, etc.).
The result, even before its release in theaters, Pierrot le fou it was booed after its presentation at the Venice Film Festival in 1965. Professional criticism therefore divided on this matter. Some especially emphasize the fact that there is “a lot of blood in Pierrot le Fou“. What Jean-Luc Godard will answer in Cinema notebooks : “Not blood, red“. Years later, the feature film will be recognized for its true value its modernity (like when Belmondo breaks the fourth wall when addressing the spectators). And despite being banned for under 18s, the film still attracted audiences at the time more than 1.3 million spectators in theaters.
Source: Cine Serie
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