CHARLOTTE ET SON JULES (director/writer: Jean-Luc Godard; cinematographer: M. Latouche; editors: Cécile Decugis/Jean-Luc Godard; music: R. Monsigny; cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo (Jules), Anne Collette (Charlotte), Gérard Blain(New Boyfriend), Jean-Luc Godard (Voice of Jean); Runtime: 13; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Pierre Braunberger; The Criterion Collection; 1960-France-in French with English subtitles)
“Who would have thunk from this throwaway little pic, Godard would go on to become one of the great innovative contemporary filmmakers!“
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Made the year before Breathless. Director Jean-Luc Godard (“Alphaville”/”King Lear”/”For Ever Mozart”) shoots this lighthearted comedy short entirely in a hotel room. A playful Charlotte (Anne Collette) returns to jilted lover Jules’s (Jean-Paul Belmondo) tiny hotel apartment after dumping him months ago and he goes into a tough guy rambling non-stop rant how he knew she would be back and heaps insults on her intelligence while she eats an ice cream cone and says nothing. The voice of Belmondo is Godard’s. It ends with a great punchline, as after Jules’ long monologue Charlotte finally says she came back for her toothbrush and leaves the crushed Jules with his jaw dropping as she grabs the brush and rushes out to meet her new boyfriend sitting in the parked car in front of the hotel.
Who would have thunk from this throwaway little pic, Godard would go on to become one of the great innovative contemporary filmmakers!
The short is dedicated toJean Cocteau. One line used says “Picasso told Cocteau it’s a miracle not to drown in your bathtub.”
REVIEWED ON 3/31/2012 GRADE: B
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DENNIS SCHWARTZ